Pulmonary emphysema

Abstract

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease state characterized by airflow limitation that is not fully reversible caused by a noxious agent. COPD is the fourth leading cause of mortality and affects more than 16 million people in the United States, a number that has increased about 40% since 1982. As COPD and other cigarette-related diseases become epidemic worldwide, the biology of emphysema is clearly complex and poorly understood with limited translation into effective pharmacotherapy. © 2006 Humana Press Inc.