Background and aims: Bronchiectasis is a common chronic respiratory condition with recurrent cough and sputum production and recurrent chest infections. It is characterised by pathological dilatation of the bronchi thought to result from infection and inflammation. It was hypothesised that impaired innate immunity might influence susceptibility to this disease process. The aim of the present study was to look for an association between bronchiectasis and insufficiency of either mannan-binding lectin (MBL) or L-ficolin.
Materials and methods: MBL and L-ficolin were measured by Enzyme-linked Immunosorbent Assay (ELISA) in sera from 119 clinically stable bronchiectasis patients, and compared with 43 age-matched disease controls admitted to hospital with community-acquired pneumonia, as well as healthy blood donors (168 for L-ficolin and 564 for MBL).
Results: Average (mean and median) serum L-ficolin concentrations were lower in the bronchiectasis patients (P < 0.04), but average MBL values did not differ significantly between the three groups. Relative L-ficolin deficiency was more frequent in bronchiectasis patients compared with blood donors (P <or= 0.002), whereas MBL insufficiency was associated with pneumonia.
Conclusion: A relative lack of serum L-ficolin might predispose to the development of bronchiectasis, although other explanations for the observed association are possible.