Effect of Tiotropium on Inflammation and Exacerbations in COPD

Overview

Patients with COPD experience exacerbations that are a major cause of morbidity. Exacerbations are associated with increased airway and systemic inflammation and those experiencing frequent exacerbations demonstrate increased inflammation in the stable state. Tiotropium has been shown to reduce exacerbation frequency and it might be postulated that this is due to a reduction in inflammation. The study will compare airway inflammation and exacerbation frequency in patients with COPD on tiotropium or placebo.

Patients with COPD will be randomised to tiotropium or placebo in addition to their usual medication. They will be followed prospectively over 1 year and provide sputum for quantification of IL-6 and IL-8 at baseline and at 3 monthly intervals.Serum IL-6 will also be quantified at baseline and over the year. Changes in inflammatory markers will be assessed by analysis of area under the curve of log transformed data. Exacerbation frequency will be calculated from patient diary cards using a previously validated symptom-based exacerbation definition.

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes