Complex immunotherapy in the treatment of elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
Abstract
The aim of this clinical study was to evaluate safety and immunological and clinical efficacy of complex immunotherapy in elderly patients with exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as of COPD associated with pneumonia.
Materials and methods. This comparative study included 2 groups of patients, 35 people each. The control group received standard treatment. The study group, along with standard treatment, received complex immunotherapy, which included extracorporeal, inhalation, and intramuscular administration of immunotropic drugs (polyoxidonium or neostim, cycloferon, and thymalin). The length of stay in the hospital was 10-14 days.
Results. Side effects of immunotherapy (increased dyspnea, fluctuations of blood pressure, etc.) were observed in 11 patients. Immunotherapy had no significant effect on cellular and biochemical parameters of blood, as well as on serum levels of proinflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, and tumor necrosis factor-alpha). At the same time, the immunotherapeutic treatment significantly reduced the amount of antibiotics and systemic glucocorticoids (sGC) taken by patients. Delayed clinical effect (4-6 months) of the treatment was assessed in 25 immunotherapeutic and 28 control patients. Sustained improvement in respiratory function, absence of disease exacerbations, and a significant reduction in drug load were observed in 18 (87%) immunotherapeutic patients and only in 7 (19%) control patients.
Conclusion. On the whole, the results of this study indicated relative safety and significant clinical efficacy of the complex immunotherapy in the treatment of COPD exacerbation in elderly patients.
