Sönmez, Feruza TuranEröz, Recep2020-04-302020-04-3020180300-06051473-2300https://doi.org/10.1177/0300060518788751https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12684/5161TURAN SONMEZ, Feruza/0000-0001-8817-8521WOS: 000453601300014PubMed: 30088791Objective To investigate whether argyrophilic nucleolar organizing region-associated protein (AgNOR) parameters can be used as a biomarker that could potentially help with the management and clinical prognosis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) exacerbation. Methods This case-control study enrolled patients with COPD who were admitted to the Emergency Department and healthy sex- and age-matched control subjects. Peripheral blood samples were collected at hospital admission and the peripheral lymphocytes were silver-stained to investigate the quantity and distribution of AgNOR proteins. Fifty nuclei per patient were viewed and the total AgNOR area/total nuclear area (TAA/TNA) ratio and the mean AgNOR number for each patient were calculated. Results A total of 20 patients with COPD exacerbation and 17 healthy control subjects were recruited to the study. The TAA/TNA ratio and the mean AgNOR number were significantly higher in the patients with COPD exacerbation compared with the healthy control subjects. The mean AgNOR number showed a positive correlation with the pCO(2) levels on admission. Conclusion AgNOR protein levels were elevated during a COPD exacerbation compared with healthy control subjects and there was a positive correlation between pCO(2) levels and mean AgNOR number.en10.1177/0300060518788751info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccessChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseargyrophilic nucleolar organizing region-associated proteinsexacerbationmanagementmarkerArticle461249955003WOS:000453601300014Q3Q4