Associations of Serum Legumain with Severity and Prognosis Among Acute Exacerbation of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients.

Abstract

Background: A number of studies have demonstrated that legumain is engaged in the pulmonary diseases. Nevertheless, the role of legumain is indistinct in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD). The aim is to identify the correlation of serum legumain with AECOPD patients through a prospective cohort study.

Methods: All 202 patients with AECOPD were enrolled. Fasting venous blood was collected. Serum legumain was detected by ELISA.

Results: On admission, serum legumain concentration was gradually elevated in line with AECOPD severity scores. Additionally, serum legumain was closely associated with clinical characteristics. Linear regression analysis confirmed the positive relationships of serum legumain with COPD severity scores. Moreover, the poor prognoses were tracked in patients of AECOPD. Serum higher legumain at admission increased the risks of death and acute exacerbation during hospitalization.

Conclusion: Serum legumain at admission was positively correlated with the severity and adverse prognosis in AECOPD patients, indicating that legumain plays a vital role in the initiation and development of AECOPD. As a result, serum legumain can become a biomarker in the disease assessment and prognosis prediction for AECOPD.