Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD)

Type

Definition

Global initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) definition

• Chronic inflammation with structural changes, narrowed small airways, and destruction of lung parenchyma
• Due to airway and/or alveolar abnormalities from exposure to noxious particles or gases
• Mixture of small airway disease (eg, obstructive bronchiolitis) and parenchymal disease (eg, emphysema) leading to airflow limitation and mucociliary dysfunction

Chronic bronchitis 

• Chronic productive cough > 3 months for 2 consecutive years not due to other causes of cough (eg, bronchiectasis)

Emphysema 

• • Abnormal and permanent airspace enlargement distal to terminal bronchioles
  • Destruction of airspace walls without obvious fibrosis
• Types

• • Proximal acinar
  • Panacinar
  • Distal acinar