Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is characterized by a complex range of pathological changes including both pulmonary and systemic effects. Several mechanisms contribute to the variable intermediate and clinically relevant disease phenotypes, such as chronic bronchitis and emphysema, and systemic disease. The molecular mechanisms associated to the pathogenesis of COPD are not yet clearly understood. Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate oxidant/antioxidant balance and the

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... systemic infl ammation in chronic bronchitis and pulmonary emphysema COPD patients. Methods: We analyzed COPD patients divided in 2 groups: chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Healthy volunteers without lung disease were used as control group. Results: We observed a signifi cant (P<0,05) increase in the levels of plasma malondialdehyde (MDA), a marker of oxidative stress, an increase in the circulating C-reactive protein (CRP), used as a biomarker of systemic infl ammation, and a decrease in antioxidant defense in COPD patients with emphysema when compared with COPD patients with chronic bronchitis. Conclusion: Althought our results should be regarded as preliminary they indicate a disturbance in oxidant/antioxidant status and systemic infl ammatory response associated to COPD patients. The differences observed were more evident in emphysematous phenotype.