Serum levels of hyaluronic acid are associated with COPD severity and predict survival

Hyaluronic acid (HA) and its degradation products play an important role in lung pathophysiology and airway remodelling in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). We investigated if HA and its degrading enzyme hyaluronidase (HYAL)-1 are associated with COPD severity and outcome. Serum HA was assessed in a discovery cohort of 80 COPD patients at stable state and exacerbations. HA, HYAL-1 and HYAL-1 enzymatic activity were evaluated at stable state, exacerbations and 4 weeks after exacerbations in 638 COPD patients from the PROMISE validation cohort. In the discovery cohort, serum HA was higher at exacerbations compared with the stable state (p=0.015). In the validation cohort, HA was higher at moderate and severe exacerbations than at baseline (p 1 % pred (p=0.034) and survival time (p=0.017). Serum HA is associated with COPD severity and predicts overall survival. Degradation of HA is associated with airflow limitation and impairment of lung function.