Value of serum and induced sputum surfactant protein-D in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract

Our study demonstrates the adverse effects of smoking on local SP-D levels since low levels of induced sputum SP-D were found in the group of current smokers, who were not receiving inhaled corticosteroid treatment. Relationship between serum SP-D and COPD exacerbations frequency suggests that serum SP-D level may be used as a lung-specific biomarker during the follow up and progression of COPD.