Roles of airway inflammation in chronic airflow obstruction
Koga, T.; Oizumi, K.
Nihon Rinsho. Japanese Journal of Clinical Medicine 57(9): 1995-1998
1999
ISSN/ISBN: 0047-1852 PMID: 10497396 Document Number: 498061
Airway inflammation plays a vital role in the pathophysiology of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Chronic airflow obstruction, a hallmark of COPD, is a manifestation of an intricate combination of loss of elastic recoil of the lung, small airway disease, mucus hypersecretion, and airway wall thickening/contraction. Airway inflammation appears to contribute to all of these components.