COPD

ANATOMY

DISCUSSION:

• COPD : Chronic airway obstruction with little or no reversibility
• It includes Emphysema and Chronic Bronchitis
• Emphysema: Histological Dx - enlarged air spaces with destruction of alveolar walls
• Chronic Bronchitis: Clinical Dx - Chronic cough with sputum production on most days for 3 mths for 2 consecutive days
• COPD and Asthma do not co exist:
• Hyperinflation in COPD/ Asthma occurs secondary to:
• Increase intraluminal secretion
• Airway inflammation
• Bronchospasm
• Loss of elastic recoil of thoracic wall musculature
• Pathophysiology of Hyperinflation - the above factors will lead to progressively increaing End Expiratory Volume
• Pathophysiology of COPD:
• COPD rarely exist in isolation - normally co-exist with other co-morbids such as HPT, DM, IHD
• Pathophysiology: Cigarette smoke induces a pulmonary and systemic inflammation which will release infalmmatory mediators such as ... that will act on different organs such as the kidney, heart, pancreas