A patient with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) may experience exacerbations associated with eosinophilic inflammation in the airways.
Clinical and laboratory features:
(1) worsening of respiratory symptoms in a patient with COPD
(2) increased eosinophils in a smear of respiratory secretions
(3) variable eosinophilia in the peripheral blood
(4) clinical improvement after starting therapy with systemic corticosteroids
Differential diagnosis:
(1) COPD-asthma overlap syndrome
(2) neutrophilic exacerbation
Patients with COPD and persistent eosinophilic inflammation in the lungs may benefit from mepolizumab (humanized monocloncal antibody against free IL-5).
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