Year: 2009
Type: article
Abstract: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease of the lungs characterized by chronic airflow obstruction, secondary to the presence of specific structural abnormalities of the airways and the pulmonary parenchima. The etiology of the airway obstruction and emphysematous destruction that cause airway limitation is the persistent lung tissue injury produced by the chronic inhalation of toxic particles and gases. These structural abnormalities are associated with an inflammatory reaction of airways, alveoli and pulmonary vessels. This abnormal inflammatory reaction can also be detected in the systemic circulation. The systemic inflammation contributes significantly to the pathobiology of numerous extrapulmonary effects of the disease, systemic effects of COPD. The interplay between the intrapulmonary and extrapulmonary effects of COPD has important clinical outcomes.
Institution: Klinički Bolnički Centar Rijeka
Language: English
Subfield: Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine
Field: Medicine
Domain: Health Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W152590526