Abstract: ObjectiveTo compare the noninvasive markers between chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients and healthy subjects and to assess their relationship with smoking. MethodsThe subjects included 52 COPD exsmoking patients (COPD EX group，n=52) and 36 smoking patients (COPD S group，n=36) treated in our hospital， 23 healthy exsmokers (HE EX group，n=23) and 23 healthy smokers (HE S group，n=23) medically examined in our hospital. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2)， and prostaglandin isomers 15F2tisoprostane (15F2tIsoP) concentrations in sputum， exhaled breath condensate (EBC)， fraction of exhaled nitric oxide， sputum cell counts and pulmonary function test were detected and compared. ResultsCompared with COPD S group， FeNO values in COPD EX group increased significantly (P<0.01); Compared with healthy group， the EBC 15F2tIsoP concentrations in two groups with COPD increased significantly (P<0.05); Compared with smokers who had equal health status， the urine 15F2tIsoP concentration in both smokers groups increased significantly (P<0.05).ConclusionThe combination of different types of inflammatory markers can be used for a comprehensive assessment of COPD respiratory inflammation.

Key words: pulmonary disease, chronic obstructive, biological markers, smoking