Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Pathogenesis of Pulmonary Diseases

COPD is a slowly progressive condition characterized by airflow limitation, which is largely irreversible. It is characterized and defined by limitation of expiratory airflow. The current scenario is chronic airflow limitation results from an abnormal inflammatory response to inhaled particles and gases in the lung. The inflammatory mediators, including oxidants and proteases, are believed to play a major role in causing lung injury. Pathogenesis of COPD-an imbalance between proteases and antiproteases and an imbalance between oxidants and oxidative stress in the lungs. The pathological process of chronic lung disease is based on the concept that pulmonary diseases involve stages of commencement by pollutants, infectious agents and exposure to smoke, consolidation and progression. Tissue damage involves complex interactions among oxidative stress, chronic inflammation, extracellular matrix proteolysis, and apoptotic and autophagic cell death.