Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the most common respiratory disorder of adults in the developed world and is the fourth main cause of death in the USA. It is also associated with high morbidity, and poses an enormous burden of suffering and expense. Despite this, the disease has received little attention compared with other respiratory conditions such as asthma and lung cancer. Current treatment can offer some marginal symptomatic relief but does not address the underlying disease process. Indeed, smoking cessation is the only intervention known to alter the rate of disease progression. There is clearly great need, and potential, for the development of superior therapies for symptomatic relief and disease modification. This book brings together leading researchers and physicians to discuss the most recent advances in our understanding of COPD, and draws together basic and clinical aspects relevant to the topic. Coverage includes the basic pathology, current and potential therapies, and detailed consideration of the major theories for the pathogenesis of COPD.

Overview of the pathology/pathogenesis Overview of current therapies Genetics Mucus hypersecretion in COPD Mechanisms of exacerbation Epithelial and mesenchymal cells Macrophage control of inflammation: negative pathways of regulation of inflammatory cytokines Neutrophils Lymphocytes Oxidants/antioxidants Proteases and anti-proteases - I Proteases and anti-proteases - II Alveolus formation: critical period, plasticity and retinoid regulation Systemic effects of COPD Potential novel therapies for COPD