Evaluation and Correlation of CRP and Procalcitonin levels among Patients in Stable phase of COPD and Patients with AECOPD

Background: Airflow blockage is a hallmark of the curable and preventive condition known as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Although its primary effect is on the lungs, COPD can also have negative effects on other body organs.Aim and objectives: To assess the blood levels of procalcitonin (PCT) and C-reactive protein (CRP) during stable and acute phases of COPD and determine whether there is any relationship between them and the progression of the illness.Patients and methods: This prospective study was done at the Chest Diseases Departments of Al-Azhar University hospitals from May 2023 to April 2024 on forty patients with suspected COPD exacerbation (clinically and radiologically).Results: The present study revealed a statistically significant difference between studied groups regarding COPD severity classification (mMRC and BODE index), with the largest scale in group 3. Both CRP and PCT were significantly higher in patients who experienced 1-2 and more than two exacerbations than in patients with no exacerbations.Conclusion: We concluded that PCT and CRP levels were good diagnostic markers for patients with COPD and for differentiating AECOPD patients from stable COPD patients. Measurement of serum PCT and hs-CRP levels in patients with AECOPD may be helpful in guiding antibacterial drug therapy.