Review article

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease – multisistemic disease

Dubravka Matanić ; Department of pulmology, Clinics for internal medicine, Clinical hospital centre Rijeka, Rijeka, Croatia
Veljko Flego ; Zavod za pulmologiju, Klinika za internu medicinu, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Igor Barković ; Zavod za pulmologiju, Klinika za internu medicinu, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Ivica Zeba ; Zavod za pulmologiju, Klinika za internu medicinu, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Željko Kupanovac ; Zavod za pulmologiju, Klinika za internu medicinu, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka, Hrvatska
Ljiljana Bulat-Kardum ; Zavod za pulmologiju, Klinika za internu medicinu, KBC Rijeka, Rijeka, Hrvatska

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.

Keywords

chronic obstructive pulmonary disease; inflammation; systemic disease

Hrčak ID:

34697

URI

https://hrcak.srce.hr/34697

Publication date:

2.3.2009.

Article data in other languages: croatian

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