Based on the literature, we evaluated the efficacy of five biomarkers - sRAGE, SP-D, fibrinogen, CC16, and CRP - both individually and in combination, at predicting airflow limitation, severity of emphysema, exacerbations, decline in FEV1, progression of emphysema, and mortality in the COPDGene and ECLIPSE cohorts. This evidence concerns the gene SFTPD and pulmonary emphysema.