News research findings indicate that the abnormalities in circulating leukocytes, which have been reported to occur in COPD patients causing decline in lung function, is different in males and females. Rather, the definition of specific changes of circulating leukocytes to be used as reliable biomarkers of the disease severity cannot be accomplished irrespective of sex. A study conducted by a group of researchers from the University of Verona revealed that male COPD patients are distinguished from controls by a significant increase in white blood cell counts, neutrophil total and differential counts, and neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio. The researchers analysed blood samples from 50 patients to find that male patients displayed increase in WBC, neutrophil and differential counts while the female patients displayed decrease in leukocyte counts. The team also said that males displayed a decrease in adaptive immune cell subpopulations while there was a consistent increase of innate immune cell types in females correlating with disease severity.