DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2017.v05i02.049

Pages: 550-552

COPD is a syndrome characterized by progressive airflow limitation caused by abnormal inflammatory reaction of airways and lung parenchyma along with systemic involvement and widespread extra-pulmonary manifestations. Among the various extra pulmonary manifestations of COPD the involvement of musculoskeletal system is very common. The aim of this study was to study profile of CRP, serum calcium, bone mineral density (BMD), and body mass index (BMI) in COPD patients and to establish multi-system involvement in COPD. This was a crosssectional study comprising of 20 patients each as study and control group. Stable male patients with age more than 45 years with established COPD without any comorbidities and steroid use were included in this study. Among 20 study patients, BMD was normal in 8 patients (40%) while osteopenia was found in 3 patients (30%). 9 people were osteoporotic (45%). in the control group BMD was normal in 15 patients (75%). Osteopenia was found in 2 patients (10%) and osteoporosis in 3 patients (15%). In the present study 12 people had abnormal BMD and also 12 people had low BMI. Out of the 12 COPD patients who had low BMI, 9 (75%) also had abnormal BMD. Though this is statistically significant the numbers are small. In the present study out of 20 patients CRP was normal in 9 patients (45%) and elevated (more than 0.6 mg/dl) in 11 patients (55%). Serum calcium was normal in all 20 patients. To conclude elevated CRP in the current study points towards the inflammatory nature of the disease. The observation of decreased BMI which is due to TNF- alpha also indicates that COPD is a systemic inflammatory disease.