Oxidative stress and antioxidant capacity in smokers undergoing a smoking cessation program: a comparison between COPD and non-COPD patients.

<bold>Background:</bold> The oxidative stress induced by cigarette smoke compounds is one of the factors responsible for bronchial inflammation and airway structural remodeling. On the other side the antioxidant capacity is variable and is an expression of the body's immune defences. <bold>Aim:</bold> to detect the level of oxidative stress and anti-oxidant capacity in smokers, comparing COPD with non COPD patients. <bold>Methods:</bold> 74 patients were assessed by spirometry and questionnaires such as CAT, mMRC, Fagestrom's. The exhaled CO was also detected in order to assess smoking exposure. All patients underwent treatment with Cytisine, an alkaloid partial agonist of the nicotinic acetylcholine receptor. The diagnosis of COPD was determined based on FEV1/FVC ratio <70%. For the evaluation of oxidative stress, d-ROMs and BAP test were carried out by spectrophotometry on a saliva sample. <bold>Results:</bold> In the overall population The pack-years was high in the mean value,34.5, above the risk threshold value of 20. CAT was 12.8 in mean value, FEV1 2.2 l±0.7, Fagestrom’s 5.1±1.8, exhaled CO 28.4±11.3, vitamin D 26.9 ±8.4 ng/ml. In table 2 We find that oxidative stress was greater in those who had not yet developed COPD. Conversely BAP value was higher in COPD group. The plasma vitamin D level was higher in COPD group , probably due to a higher supplement use. The C reactive protein was greater in non COPD. D-ROMs value appears to closely correlate with FEV1 and CAT(table 3) <bold>Conclusions:</bold> Oxidative stress is higher in patients who had not yet developed COPD compared with COPD. Our findings are probably due to a greater inflammatory state and a reduced blood level of vitamin D in smokers non COPD.