Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 5, 2026
Home-Based Prescribed Pulmonary Exercise in Patients with Stable Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Published on: August 24, 2019
Plasma surfactant protein-A levels in apparently healthy smokers, stable and exacerbation COPD patients
1Nida, Department of Physiology & Cell Biology, The University of Health Sciences, Khayaban-e-Jamia, Lahore, Pakistan.
Objective:
To compare the plasma level of surfactant protein-A in apparently healthy smokers, stable and exacerbation Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients.
Methods:
This was a comparative study conducted from January, 2015 to March, 2016. This study was conducted on 87 subjects of both gender and age between 30-70 years. Of the total 87 subjects; 29 subjects were "healthy smokers" selected from general population as control group. Another 29 were "stable COPD" patients free of exacerbation since last six weeks. Lastly, another 29 subjects were "exacerbated COPD" patients with 7-10 days of exacerbation. COPD was diagnosed on the basis of relevant history and spirometry showing post bronchodilator FEV1/FVC <0.70. Surfactant Protein-A level (ng/ml) was estimated by a specific solid phase enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) using automated EIA analyzer.
Results:
The SP-A levels, determined by competitive ELISA, was significantly higher (P<0.025) in healthy smokers (44.19±39.17 ng/ml) and exacerbated (43.86±40.17) than the stable COPD (25.89±18.85) patients. The lung function parameters (FEV1, FVC and FEV1/ FVC) were lower in COPD patients compared to healthy smokers and were related to the duration of smoking.
Conclusion:
Current smokers and exacerbated patients had higher values of SP-A protein than stable COPD patients since they had stopped smoking.
Related Concept Videos
01:15Bioavailability Study Design: Healthy Subjects Versus Patients
01:29Drug Distribution: Plasma Protein Binding
01:20Protein Buffers in Blood Plasma and Cells
Certain amino acids can exist in a zwitterion state at a...
01:20COPD: Pathogenesis and Clinical Features
The primary cause for the onset of COPD is cigarette smoking and exposure to air pollution. These hazardous factors initiate a chain reaction within the lungs, resulting in chronic inflammation, damage to the airways, and a...
01:26COPD: Management Using Bronchodilators and Corticosteroids
01:31Factors Affecting Renal Clearance: Drug's Physicochemical Properties and Plasma Levels
One important factor is the drug's molecular size. The kidneys readily excrete smaller molecules below 300 Daltons (Da). On the other hand, molecules weighing between 300 and 500 Da are excreted through both urine and bile. Larger molecules above 500 Da tend to be excreted...