The interrelation between spirometric and erythrocyte indices in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and its combination with hypothyroidism

Annotation. Erythrocyte indices of the complete blood count are also important predictors of the prognosis of the further course of the disease and even mortality in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), not only external respiration parameters. This pathology is linked with a large series of concomitant diseases. Hypothyroidism, which is more common in patients with COPD than in the general population according to last reports, is among their number. The purpose of this article is to determine the relationship between red blood cells (RBC) indices and spirometric parameters in COPD patients and those having combination with hypothyroidism. Another aim of the research was to ascertain the persistent bronchial obstruction effect on erythrocytes and the possible points of thyroid hormones involvement in its mechanism. In 60 patients aged 55-75 with COPD, including 20 with concomitant hypothyroidism, clinical blood test data were processed (especially RBC count, haematocrit, levels of haemoglobin, mean corpuscular volume, mean corpuscular haemoglobin, mean corpuscular haemoglobin concentration) and forced spirometry results before and after bronchodilator inhalation both, based on some of which a special prognostic index was calculated, as well as the results of forced spirometry – both baseline and after the use of a bronchodilator. Signs of ventilatory failure of the restrictive type and tendencies towards flattening of the flow-volume curve, irreversibility of bronchial obstruction were more significant in patients with comorbidity. And, vice versa, correlations between haematological and spirometric indices revealed in COPD patients without hypothyroidism were not found in patients with comorbidity. This may be an evidence of different pathogenetic mechanisms of mutual burden of these two diseases. And their complete investigation may promote the development of differentiated pharmacotherapy tactics for patients with COPD depending of comorbidity with hypothyroidism.