| abstract |
The present invention relates to biomarkers that may be used to evaluate the prognoses of patients suffering from pulmonary diseases and assist in the determination of appropriate therapeutic regimens. It is based, at least in part, on the discovery that a number of T-cell antigens are differentially expressed in chronic lung disease patients depending on the prognosis of the patient. Non-limiting examples of these antigens include CD28, CD4, CD25, CD45, CD27 and CCR7 and combinations thereof. Use of these biomarker antigens, optionally in conjunction with pulmonary function tests, provides an indication of which patients are likely to suffer a severely adverse outcome within the year and/or be refractory to treatment. |