Highly sensitive C-reactive protein levels in Iranian patients with pulmonary complication of sulfur mustard poisoning and its correlation with severity of airway diseases

• Published in: Human & experimental toxicology 2009-12, Vol.28 (12), p.739-745
• Main Authors: Attaran, Davood, Lari, Shahrzad M, Khajehdaluee, Mohammad, Ayatollahi, Hossein, Towhidi, Mohammad, Asnaashari, Amir, Marallu, Hassan Ghobadi, Mazloomi, Maryam, Mood, Mahdi Balali
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Aged; Biological & chemical weapons; Biological and medical sciences; C-Reactive Protein - metabolism; Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases; Chemical Warfare Agents - poisoning; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma; Cross-Sectional Studies; Disease Progression; Gas, fumes; Humans; Iran; Iran Iraq War; Lung Diseases - blood; Lung Diseases - chemically induced; Lung Diseases - pathology; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Mustard Gas - poisoning; Nephelometry and Turbidimetry; Physical Examination; Pneumology; Poisoning; Proteins; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - chemically induced; Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive - pathology; Respiratory Function Tests; Respiratory Tract Diseases - blood; Respiratory Tract Diseases - chemically induced; Respiratory Tract Diseases - pathology; Toxicology; Veterans
• ISSN: 0960-3271; 1477-0903
• DOI: 10.1177/0960327109354311

Background: Sulfur mustard (SM) is a chemical warfare agent that can cause serious pulmonary complications. This study was designed to determine serum highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and evaluate its correlation with lung function parameters in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to SM poisoning. Methods: Fifty consecutive SM patients with stable COPD and a mean age 46.3 ± 9.18 years were enrolled in this cross sectional study. Thirty healthy men were selected as controls. Lung function parameters were evaluated. Serum hs-CRP by immunoturbidometry assay was measured in both the patients and controls. Results: In the case group, the mean forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1) was 2.14 ± 0.76 L (58.98% ± 17.51% predicted). The mean serum hs-CRP was 9.4 ± 6.78 SD and 3.9 ± 1.92 SD mg/L in the cases and controls, respectively, with significant statistical differences (p < .001). There was negative correlation between the serum hs-CRP and FEV1 levels (p = .01). The serum hs-CRP levels were also correlated with Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung disease (GOLD) stages (r = .45, p < .001). Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the serum hs-CRP level is increased in SM patients with COPD and may have a direct correlation with disease severity. It may then be used as a marker for the severity of COPD in patients with SM poisoning.