RESUMEN
AIM: Determination of the level of zinc and its fractions, as well as the enzyme neutrophilic elastase and albumin in persons suffering from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), as well as smoking actively and passively. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study involved 30 patients with a diagnosis of COPD and 90 healthy persons (60 of them smoking at the present time, 30 - no) who underwent spirometry and determination of zinc levels and its pools, albumin, and neutrophil elastase. All data are subject to statistical processing. RESULTS: It is determined that the studied parameters differ significantly in the groups of smokers with COPD, healthy smokers and non-smokers, and correlate with the volume of forced exhalation for 1 second as a percentage of the due. CONCLUSION: The revealed regularities make it possible to consider the indicator "share of bound zinc fraction" introduced in the study as a screening criterion in diagnosing COPD in smokers.