The relationship between airway thickness and persistent eosinophilia in COPD

This study investigated the relationship between long-term blood eosinophilia and airway structural changes in COPD. Persistent eosinophilia over four years was associated with increased airway wall thickness, as measured by Pi10 on quantitative CT, whereas no differences were observed in emphysema, air trapping, or ground-glass changes. Airway thickness did not differ between eosinophilic and non-eosinophilic exacerbators. These findings suggest that sustained eosinophilic inflammation is linked to airway remodeling in COPD and may represent a potential therapeutic target.