Erdoğan Kunter

Pulmonary Function Tests and Thyroid Hormone Concentrations in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between pulmonary function tests, arterial blood gases, and thyroid gland functions in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Subjects and Methods: Thirty-two patients (mean age 64.1 ± 7.3 years, range 53–84 years) with stable COPD (mean duration of disease 11.1 ± 9.1 years, range 1–30 years) and 15 healthy control cases participated in the study. Pulmonary function, arterial blood gas, and thyroid hormone concentration were measured, and thyroid ultrasonography and scintigraphy were also performed. Results: The values of the pulmonary function tests (vital capacity, forced vital capacity, forced expiratory volume in 1 s and peak expiratory flow) and PaO2 were lower in the study than control group (p < 0.001), but the values of PaCO2 and concentration of free 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (fT3) were higher in the study than control group (p < 0.01) although thyroid hormone concentrations were within normal limits in all cases. However, there was no difference between the values of thyroid-stimulating hormone and free thyroxine in both the study and control groups and therefore association could not be established between them on the one hand and pulmonary function test and arterial blood gases on the other hand. Only the values of PaCO2 and fT3 were positively associated; all other values were negatively associated with fT3. Conclusion: Changes in pulmonary function tests and arterial blood gases seem to be associated with fT3 concentrations in patients with COPD. Increased respiratory workload could affect thyroid functions.

Detection of thoracotomy-induced alterations in cell- and humoral-mediated immune response.

OBJECTIVE It is well known that thoracotomy leads to several complications. In this study, effects of thoracotomy on cellular and humoral immunities have been investigated. Leukocyte counts and lymphocyte counts of 100 patients operated by thoracotomy have been determined preoperatively and on the postoperative 3rd hour, and 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 5th days. Also lymphocyte surface markers (CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8, CD19, CD16/56) and immunoglobulin levels (IgG, IgA, IgM, IgE) in 40 out of 100 patients in the preoperative period and postoperatively twice on 7th day and then in the 3rd week have been detected. MATERIALS AND METHODS For the methodology hemocounter, flow cytometer, immunoprecipitation, and enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay were used. RESULTS A marked increase in leukocyte count while a marked decrease in lymphocyte count has been observed after thoracotomy (P<0.001). There was not any significant alteration in levels of lymphocyte surface markers and immunoglobulins in the postoperative period (P>0.2). CONCLUSION According to these results, leucocytosis occurred but lymphocyte count decreased in the early postoperative period. Immunoglobulin levels and subpopulation of lymphocytes were not affected from the operative stress.