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Ling Peng,1,2 Li Han,2 Xiao-Ning Li,2 Ya-Fang Miao,2 Fei Xue,2 Chao Zhou1,3 1School of Clinical Medicine, Guizhou Medical University, Guiyang, Guizhou, People’s Republic of China; 2Department of Respiratory Medicine, Zhoupu Hospital Affiliated to Shanghai University of Medicine and Health Sciences, Shanghai, People’s Republic of China; 3Department of Respiratory Medicine, Guangming Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Pudong New Area, Shanghai, People’s Republic of ChinaCorrespondence: Chao ZhouDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, Guangming Traditional Chinese Medicine Hospital of Pudong New Area, No. 339 DongMen Street. Pudong New District, Shanghai 201399, People’s Republic of ChinaTel +86-21-68019069Email zhou2000sh@163.comBackground: The differential diagnosis of acute exacerbation of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (AECOPD) with acute pulmonary embolism (APE) complications are difficult because of the variability of clinical presentations and the shortage of an unfailing screening biomarkers or instruments.Objective: Aimed to detect and compare the expression of serum microRNAs (miR-1233, miR-134) in AECOPD patients complicated with APE.Patients/Methods: Blood samples were collected from 52 AECOPD patients (13 patients with APE complications, 39 patients without APE) and 10 patients with stable COPD. Serum miRNAs expression was detected with real-time quantitative reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (qRT-PCR). The levels of plasma D-dimers were determined by detection with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The receiver-operator characteristic (ROC) curve was used for evaluating the diagnostic accuracy of the studied miRNAs.Results: According to the Wells score, 42 of the 52 AECOPD patients were unlikely to have APE (≤ 4 points), whereas the remaining 10 (> 4 points) were likely to have APE. There were 4 cases (4/13 30.8%) in the AECOPD combined with APE group with a Wells sco