Mucin Concentration in Sputum From COPD Patients During a Pulmonary Exacerbation

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is typically associated with mucus hypersecretion in the airways. In health, mucin is the major macromolecular component and is responsible for the protective and clearance properties of the mucus gel. In a recent study the investigators found that mucins are decreased and unstable in the sputum of adult cystic fibrosis (CF) patients. In this study the investigators want to investigate the differences on the mucin quantity and quality of airway secretions during pulmonary exacerbation of patients with COPD.