Diffuse pulmonary disease is classified as:

1. Obstructive disease, characterized by increased resistance to airflow.

2. Restrictive disease characterized by reduced expansion of lung parenchyma, with decreased total lung capacity.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a major health problem. The disease is driven by abnormal inflammatory reactions in response to inhaled particles and fumes. Therefore, inflammatory mediators are postulated to be of distinct importance.

 COPD  is a spectrum of clinical disease from pure emphysema to pure bronchitis. There are certain differences between two extremes but many individuals show overlapping features due to common initiating factor, cigarette smoking.

Obstructive Lung Disease:

 Emphysema

 Chronic bronchitis

 Asthma  

 Bronchiectasis

Systemic inflammation in COPD: is genetic susceptibility a key factor?
COPD. 2006 Mar;3(1):51-61.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and sleep: the interaction.Panminerva Med. 2006 Dec;48(4):223-30.

The role of airway secretions in COPD--clinical applications.COPD. 2005 Sep;2(3):377-90.

TNF-alpha-, TNF-beta-, IL-6-, and IL-10-promoter polymorphisms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.Tissue Antigens.2005 Jan;65(1):93-100