ABSTRACT
Inflammation is a complex process involving cellular, protein, and biochemical mediators. Side effects include tissue damage, which in the lung can lead to many of the clinical and pathological features of patients with chronic obstruction pulmonary disease (COPD). In recent years there has been an increase in the literature on inflammation in COPD, although at present this is somewhat confusing as research tries to bridge the gap between basic mechanisms and clinical observation. Part of the problem relates to the use of the term COPD itself, which is a group of conditions defined on the basis of predominantly fixed airflow limitation. This airflow limitation may relate to problems in the large airways, occlusion of small airways, and dynamic airways collapse as a result of loss of connective tissue (often a feature of emphysema). There is now extensive literature involving studies of tissue biopsies of the large and small airways, bronchial and bronchoalveolar lavage, sputum and sputum induction.
