Systemic pro-inflammatory response following bronchoscopic lung volume reduction using endobronchial valves

RATIONALE: Bronchoscopic lung volume reduction treatment using endobronchial valves (EBV) is an effective treatment for severe COPD patients by improving lung function and quality of life. However, little is known about its effects on systemic inflammation. Therefore, the aim of our study was to investigate whether EBV treatment impacts the inflammatory cytokine profile.

METHODS: This study was a predefined sub-study of the SoLVE trial (NCT03474471) that investigated the combination of EBV treatment with pulmonary rehabilitation (PR). The sub-study included the collection of blood samples with assessment of 10 inflammatory markers prior to EBV treatment and 6 months after EBV or EBV+PR treatment.

RESULTS: In 66 patients, 6 months after treatment a pro-inflammatory cytokine profile was observed, with an increase in all pro-inflammatory markers and a decrease in the anti-inflammatory cytokine interleukin-10. The changes in plasma cytokine profile were not associated with changes in clinical outcomes such as lung function or exercise capacity.

DISCUSSION: In conclusion, our study demonstrated an elevation in systemic pro-inflammatory cytokine levels following successful EBV treatment, which was not associated with adverse clinical outcomes. It would be interesting to further explore whether this increase is attributed to a foreign body response or if other factors contribute to this phenomenon.