Abstract
Objective
This pilot study concerns the evaluation of the acute cytokine response to exercise and changes in this throughout a 7 week pulmonary rehabilitation programme.
Methods
17 (10 male, 7 female) stable COPD patients, mean (SD) age 69 (8) yrs, mean FEV1, 51.3 (17.3) % predicted entered into 7 weeks of rehabilitation. The acute cytokine response (ACR) was measured from serum cytokine levels; Interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and C-reactive protein (CRP) taken pre, post and 1 hour post-maximal incremental shuttle walking test (ISWT). The ACR to maximal exercise was determined before rehabilitation (T0) and post rehabilitation (T7). The ACR (pre/post test) to iso-distance exercise (based on initial ISWT distance) was determined throughout the rehabilitation period at 2 (T2), 4 (T4) weeks and at the end (T7).
Results
12 patients completed the study. Maximal ISWT distance significantly increased after rehabilitation. There was no significant change in baseline cytokine level throughout; or in pre/post-exercise cytokine levels prior to, during or following rehabilitation.
Conclusions
There was no significant inflammatory response associated with maximal exercise before or after training. Cytokine responses to a fixed bout of exercise did not alter markedly throughout. Clinical PR is unlikely to exacerbate systemic inflammation in COPD.
Acknowledgements
We gratefully acknowledge the financial support of St. George’s NHS Therapies Research Fund in the development of this work.