C型肝炎病毒感染對老年人慢性阻塞性肺疾病的影響

慢性阻塞性肺疾病（COPD）是一種融合了複雜的特徴與症狀的疾病，包括了慢性支氣管炎（chronic bronchitis）與肺氣腫（emphysema）。最近報告發現慢性C型肝炎病毒（HCV）感染會加重60歲以下COPD患者肺功能的退化；然而C型肝炎病毒感染是否影響60歲以上老年人COPD的惡化，目前仍然未知。所以，我們以台中縣賢德醫院的病患為研究對象，從2001年4月開始至2006年5月為止，共收集了218位60歲以上老年COPD患者，利用卡方檢定法，分析HCV感染、GPT升高及血清白蛋白（serum albumin）降低對於COPD嚴重程度的相關性。結果顯示GPT升高在老年的COPD有顯著意義（P< 0.05）；但HCV感染及血清白蛋白降低則沒有相關性。因此，我們認為GPT可能可以成為老年COPD惡化的預估標記（prognosis marker）。

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease（COPD）is a complex of signs and symptoms in patients with chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Recent reports indicated that chronic HCV infection might accelerate in lung of patients with COPD under 60 years old patients, However, whether HCV infection affects the COPD patients over 60 years old is not well understood. Therefore, we collected 218 COPD patients over 60 years old from Cender hospital (Taichung, Taiwan) from April, 2001 to May, 2006. Using chi-square test, the correlation of the COPD with elevated GPT, decreased albumin or HCV infection in patients was analysis. The result showed that the COPD severity was significantly associated with the elevated GPT (P<0.05)，but not the decreased albumin and HCV infection in older patients. These findings suggested that the GPT level may be a prognosis marker in elder COPD patients.