Plasma beta-endorphin concentrations are increased in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease patients

The present study is concerned with plasma beta-endorphin and glucose toler ance in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Plasma beta-endorphin, glucagon and insulin concentrations were measured during an oral glucose tolerance test in 20 COPD patients and in 18 age-matched heal thy controls (mean age 62 years). Seven patients had a moderate COPD (group I) and seven a severe COPD (group II). The remaining six severe COPD patie nts received long-term oxygen therapy (group III). We found that fasting le vels of beta-endorphin were significantly increased in all patient groups c ompared to healthy controls (p<0.01, 0.05 and 0.005, respectively). Six of the 13 severely diseased COPD patients had impaired glucose tolerance. Plas ma beta-endorphin levels decreased significantly during OGTT in the COPD pa tients (p<0.05). Pasting beta-endorphin levels were higher in patients with impaired glucose tolerance than in those patients with normal OGTT (42.0 p mol/L+/-11.4 SD versus 34.8+/-10.2). However, this difference was not stati stically significant. In conclusion, this study showed that beta-endorphin concentrations are increased in COPD patients whether or not they receive o xygen therapy.