Background: the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involves a chronic inflammatory process and a violation of the antioxidant defense system, which requires a certain amount of iron (Fe) to function, primarily in the system of phagocytic alveolar macrophages.

Objective: To investigate the dynamics of iron content in bronchoalveolar fluid (BALF) in patients with COPD GOLD stages I-IV.

Methods: The content of Fe was studied in 62 patients with COPD with different stages of bronchial obstruction according to the GOLD classification: 12 patients with stage I COPD, 20 with stage II COPD, 18 with stage III COPD, and 12 patients with stage IV COPD. Determination of Fe content in BALF obtained during fibrobronchoscopy was carried out by the atomic absorption method on an atomic absorption spectrometer.

Results: An increase of Fe in the BALF of patients with stages I-IV COPD was identified, as compared with apparently healthy individuals, is in 1.26 (?<0.05), 1.32 (?<0 .01), 1.35 (?<0.05) and 1.36 (?<0.01) times. An increase in Fe in the BALF of the examined patients was correlated with an increase in the severity of bronchial obstruction and with a decrease in the content of Fe in blood serum (r=0.89; p<0.05).

Conclusions: the increased loss of Fe through the bronchial tree may indicate the accumulation of a significant amount of Fe in macrophages to ensure the course of oxidant reactions and their destruction, which is one of the factors that probably lead to Fe deficiency in blood serum and to systemic consequences in COPD.