Pulmonary surfactant protein D (SP-D) is considered as a candidate biomarker for the functional integrity of the lung and for disease progression, which can be detected in serum. SP-D may function to modulate inflammation and host defense in the vasculature, which may impact the development or progression of cardiovascular disease. Circulating SP-D is supposed to be a predictor of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality and adding prognostic information to well-established risk factors.

Aims: measurement and assessment of serum SP-D level and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

Methods and Results: in 39 patients with II and III stage of COPD we have measured serum SP-D level and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation during reactive hyperemia test. Comparing II to III stage more impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation during reactive hyperemia test and reduced increase in brachial artery diameter in III stage were registered (median ∆D 26% vs. ∆D 10,9%, correlation −0,71, p<0,05). SP-D level also correlated with COPD stage (correlation 0,75, p=0,01). However, we didn’t find reliable correlation between SP-D level and endothelium-dependent vasodilatation. At the same time endothelium-dependent vasodilatation has shown high correlation with serum pro-inflammatory and anti-inflammatory cytokines level, negative and positive, accordingly.

Conclusion: both worsening of endothelium function and SP-D concentration strongly correlates with stage of COPD. However, can suppose that endothelium dysfunction in COPD-patients isn’t associated with SP-D serum concentration, and SP-D can’t be assessed as the significant risk factor of endothelial dysfunction. This fact requires further investigation.