Effect of short-term oral prednisone therapy on blood gene expression: a randomised controlled clinical trial

Effects of systemic corticosteroids on blood gene expression are largely unknown. This study determined gene expression signature associated with short-term oral prednisone therapy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its relationship to 1-year mortality following an acute exacerbation of COPD (AECOPD).Gene expression in whole blood was profiled using the Affymetrix Human Gene 1.1 ST microarray chips from two...