• Ramon Boixeda, Josep Antón Capdevila, Vanessa Vicente, Elisabet Palomera, Jordi Juanola, Laia Albiach, Ainhoa Rex, and Jordi Almirall.
• Servicio de Medicina Interna, Hospital de Mataró-Consorci Sanitari del Maresme, Mataró, Barcelona, España; Departamento de Medicina. Universidad de Barcelona, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: rboixeda@csdm.cat.
• Med Clin (Barc). 2017 Aug 10; 149 (3): 107-113.

ObjectivesTo evaluate the levels of the serum gamma globulin fraction in proteinograms as a biomarker to assess the severity, and to predict the mortality and new exacerbations in patients admitted for an exacerbation of a COPD.Patients And MethodsThe VIRAE study was carried out on a cohort of patients hospitalized for an exacerbation of probable infectious origin of COPD over a period of 2 years. The levels of the serum gamma globulin fraction were analyzed in the proteinogram of 120 patients. The main clinical indicators of severity were also evaluated. Key features were compared in 2 groups (gamma fraction in the proteinogram greater or less than 6.6g/dl).ResultsThe levels of the serum gamma fraction in the proteinogram correlated with the FEV1 (P=.009), the CRP (P=.04), and the number of readmissions after 6 months of hospitalization (P=.04). We observed a good association with the GOLD scale, the BODE index and the mMRC dyspnea scale; and also with treatment with oral corticoids and home oxygen therapy. We did not find it to be a good predictor of mortality, despite observing increased mortality rates one year after hospital admission in patients with low levels of the factor.ConclusionsThe levels of the gamma globulin fraction in proteinograms has a good correlation with the FEV1. In addition, they are associated with a greater severity of patients with COPD. This simple biomarker may be useful in identifying high-risk patients.Copyright © 2017 Elsevier España, S.L.U. All rights reserved.

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