Objective  To investigate the relationship among T lymphocyte subsets and lung function, hypersensitive C-reactive protein (CRP), and the number of acute exacerbations at one year in patients with acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD).

Methods  The data of 66 elderly patients with AECOPD and 63 healthy elderly people were analyzed and compared. The differences in hypersensitivity CRP, total T lymphocyte count (CD3), helper T lymphocytes (CD4), killer T lymphocytes (CD8), and helper-to-killer cell ratio (CD4/CD8) were compared. AECOPD patients were divided into two groups (grade I-II group and grade III-IV group) according to Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD). The differences of CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 and hypersensitivity CRP in different groups were compared. The correlation between CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 and FEV1%pred, FEV1/FVC, hypersensitivity CRP, and the number of acute exacer-bations at one year were analyzed.

Results  There were significant differences in body mass index, FEV1%pred, CD3, CD4, CD8, CD4/CD8 and hypersensitivity CRP between AECOPD group and healthy control group (P<0.05). The levels of CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8 and hypersensitivity CRP in the lung function grade I-II group and the III-IV group were different (P<0.05). CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8 were positively correlated with FEV1% pred and FEV1/FVC, and negatively correlated with hypersensitive CRP (P<0.05).

Conclusion  There is a significant correlation among peripheral blood CD3, CD4, CD4/CD8 and lung function and the number of acute exacerbations in patients with AECOPD, and T lymphocyte subsets can be used as in-dicators to judge the prognosis of COPD patients.

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