Asthma-COPD overlap syndrome

Abstract

Asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) are two of the most common airway diseases. So far, they were considered as two separate diseases. Recently, the fact, that they may coexist, is underlined, which was called asthma-COPD overlap syndrome. The part of the risk factors are common for both diseases. The definition of the overlap syndrome is controversial. Further investigations on airway remodeling and inflammatory processes may help to determine the diagnostic criteria. New mediators are searched, which expression is characteristic for this syndrome. The differentiation of clinical outcome in patients with overiap syndrome compared with patients with either asthma or COPD is undedined. Perhaps the overlap syndrome should be considered as a new COPD phenotype.