Abstract
The recent definition that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a “preventable and treatable disease state characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible” reminds that the respiratory functional evaluation is an integral part in the diagnostic and follow-up process in this disease. This review has the scope to focus on some of the most debated pathophysiological and functional issues. One of these is how airflow obstruction occurs and progresses. To this aim, we will discuss the functional role of mucus, increased thickness of the submucosa and adventitia, airway smooth muscle, site of airway narrowing, collapsibility of the central airways, and loss of lung elastic recoil in decreasing flow. Then, we will present a functional clinical approach to the disease that covers the most important features of the disease, such as diagnosis, follow-up, severity assessment, lung hyperinflation, and bronchodilator response.
Keywords: Airflow limitation, airway narrowing, lung elastic recoil, lung hyperinflation, bronchodilation, pathology, lung function tests
Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews
Title: Structure and Function in COPD
Volume: 4 Issue: 4
Author(s): Riccardo Pellegrino, Giuseppe Coletta, Valter Gallo and Vito Brusasco
Affiliation:
Keywords: Airflow limitation, airway narrowing, lung elastic recoil, lung hyperinflation, bronchodilation, pathology, lung function tests
Abstract: The recent definition that chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a “preventable and treatable disease state characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible” reminds that the respiratory functional evaluation is an integral part in the diagnostic and follow-up process in this disease. This review has the scope to focus on some of the most debated pathophysiological and functional issues. One of these is how airflow obstruction occurs and progresses. To this aim, we will discuss the functional role of mucus, increased thickness of the submucosa and adventitia, airway smooth muscle, site of airway narrowing, collapsibility of the central airways, and loss of lung elastic recoil in decreasing flow. Then, we will present a functional clinical approach to the disease that covers the most important features of the disease, such as diagnosis, follow-up, severity assessment, lung hyperinflation, and bronchodilator response.
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Cite this article as:
Pellegrino Riccardo, Coletta Giuseppe, Gallo Valter and Brusasco Vito, Structure and Function in COPD, Current Respiratory Medicine Reviews 2008; 4 (4) . https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157339808786263770
DOI https://dx.doi.org/10.2174/157339808786263770 |
Print ISSN 1573-398X |
Publisher Name Bentham Science Publisher |
Online ISSN 1875-6387 |
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