Abstract： Objective To investigate the characteristics of respiratory viral infections, and correlation between inflammatory cytokines and respiratory virus infections in patients with acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Methods A prospective cohort of patients with acute exacerbations of COPD was enrolled. The sputum of all patients were collected,and 15 respiratory viruses were detected using multi ? channel real ? time fluorescence quantitative PCR. The clinical characteristics associated with viral infections were analyzed. The peripheral blood of the patients was collected and cytokines including IL?6, IL?8, RANTES, IP?10, sIL?2R, IFN?γ, TNF?α in the serum were detected by ELISA. Association of these cytokines with respiratory viral infections was evaluated and a discriminant model was established. Results A total of 99 patients with acute exacerbations of COPD were enrolled in this study. Thirty?four cases (34.3%, 34/99) were positive for viral detection. Among them, the positive rate of influenza A virus was the highest (38.2%, 13/34), followed by rhinovirus (35.3%, 12/34). Multifactor logistic regression analysis showed that,fever, COPD assessment test (CAT) score in stable stage, serum IP?10 and TNF? α levels were correlated with respiratory viral infections in patients with acute exacerbations of COPD. The levels of serum IP?10 and sIL?2R increased significantly in patients with influenza A virus. Conclusions Respiratory viral infections were common in acute exacerbations of COPD. Influenza A virus and rhinovirus were the two most common viruses. Fever was a common symptom. Patients with severe respiratory symptoms at stable stage were susceptible to viral infection. Viral infection was associated with an increase in systemic inflammatory levels,most significantly in influenza virus infection. A discriminant model composed of fever, CAT score in stable stage, serum IP?10 and TNF?α levels can be used to predict respiratory viral infections in acute exacerbations of COPD.