[Relationship between local effect of cortisol used by chronic bronchitis patients and syndrome differentiation in TCM]

Serum cortisol levels and bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) from 105 patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and 36 normal subjects were examined and the relationship between cortisol inhibiting the TXB2 secreted by alveolar macrophage (AM) and the theory of Syndrome Differentiation in TCM was explored. Results showed: (1) No significant differences were found between chronic bronchitis and normal subjects on cortisol levels in serum, but in BALF, cortisol levels was significantly lower in Lung Qi Deficiency when compared with that in normal subjects. (2) the levels of cortisol inhibiting the TXB2 secreted by AM which were significantly lower in chronic bronchitis when compared with that in control. In short, the amount and function of cortisol in BALF were significantly different in various syndromes in TCM of chronic bronchitis.