Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is associated with systemic inflammation and oxidative stress. These conditions may lead to formation of advanced glycation end-products (AGEs). In this study we investigated in 88 COPD patients and 55 control subjects (80% ex-smokers) the association of the plasma protein-bound AGEs Nε- (carboxymethyl)lysine (CML), pentosidine, Nε-(carboxyethyl)lysine (CEL) and AGE accumulation in skin by skin auto fluorescence (AFR) with lung function. Plasma CML (COPD: 61.6±15.6, never smokers: 80.7±19.8 , ex-smokers: 82.9±19.3 nmol·mmol-1 lysine) was decreased and CEL (COPD: 39.1±10.9, never smokers: 30.4±5.0, ex-smokers : 27.7±6.4 nmol·mmol-1 lysine), and AFR (COPD: 3.33±0.67, never smokers: 2.24±0.45, ex-smokers: 2.31±0.47 AU) were increased in COPD compared to the controls. Disease state was inversely associated with CML, and linearly with CEL and AFR. Performing regression analyses in the total group, CEL and AFR were negative and CML was positive associated with lung function, even after correction for potential confounders. In conclusion, CEL and AFR were negatively and CML was positively associated with disease state. Only in the total group, the AGEs showed an association with FEV1. Our data suggest that AGEs are involved in the pathophysiology of COPD, although their exact role remains to be determined.