RESUMO
BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: To investigate the efficacy of beclomethasone and aminophylline combined with enteral nutrition in the treatment of elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and the associated effects of these drugs on patient nutritional status and immune function. METHODS AND STUDY DESIGN: In total, 115 elderly patients with COPD were included and were randomized into an enteral nutrition (EN) group and a control (CON) group. Aminophylline, in combination with beclomethasone, was administered to the CON group, whereas aminophylline and beclomethasone in combination with EN was administered to the EN group. RESULTS: Patients in the EN group showed significant improvement in partial pressure of carbon dioxide, forced expiratory volume in 1 sec/ expiratory forced vital capacity, and partial pressure of oxygen than those in the CON group. The levels of IgM, IgG, and IgA as well as the number of CD4+/CD8+ and CD4+/CD3+ T cells were higher in the EN group than those in the CON group (p<0.05); the EN group also exhibited higher levels of inflammatory cytokines, such as tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin (IL)-1ß (p<0.05), and lower levels of IL-6 than the CON group. In addition, patients in the EN group showed a significant increase in serum total protein, albumin, and transferrin levels than those in the CON group (p<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Elderly patients with COPD showed a marked response to a regimen of beclomethasone, aminophylline, and EN, which significantly improved their immune function and nutritional status.