Elevated plasma eosinophil-derived neurotoxin is associated with echocardiographic pulmonary vascular involvement in stable COPD

The study examined the relationship between eosinophil-derived neurotoxin (EDN) and pulmonary vascular involvement in patients with stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The research included 53 COPD patients and 10 healthy controls, with COPD patients divided into a group with echocardiographic pulmonary vascular involvement (10 subjects) and without it (43 subjects). The median plasma EDN level was 181.58 ng/mL in patients with pulmonary vascular involvement and 125.66 ng/mL in those without involvement. After adjustment for respiratory variables, the difference was 48.93 ng/mL (P < 0.001). Positive associations were also observed with tricuspid regurgitation pressure gradient and pulmonary artery-to-aorta ratio. The results suggest that elevated EDN levels may be associated with pulmonary vascular involvement in patients with stable COPD.