[Muscle catabolism in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease]

Abstract

Background and objectives: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is accompanied by muscle involvement. Pseudouridine, a catabolite of RNA, has been used in other conditions to assess muscle catabolism. We have examined the excretion of pseudouridine in patients with different stages of COPDs evolution.

Subjects and methods: We have defined four population groups: control group (without disease), chronic bronchitis group, emerging COPD group, and advanced COPD group. Pseudouridine was determined by high performance liquid chromatography,

Results: Pseudouridine extraction (pseudouridine/creatinine ratio) was (mean+19.9 (6.6) μmol/mmol in control group and was found to be very increased in all the patients with pulmonary condition: chronic bronchitis, 44.1 (60.75) μmol/mmol, 81.6 (56.8) μmol/mmol in emerging COPD group and 140.1 (68) μmol/mmol in advanced COPD for all the comparisons with normal subjects and among patients with lung disease). Age and gender did not affect pseudouridine excretion.

Conclusions: The urinary excretion of pseudouridine is increased in chronic bronchitis and COPD and is related to disease stage. Its excretion is independent of age and gender.