Emphysema(Archived)

Excerpt

Pulmonary emphysema, a progressive lung disease, is a form of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). The Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) has defined COPD as "a common, preventable, and treatable disease that is characterized by persistent respiratory symptoms and airflow limitation that is due to airway or alveolar abnormalities usually caused by significant exposure to noxious particles or gases."

COPD is the third leading cause of death worldwide. COPD encompasses patients with chronic bronchitis and emphysema. Although these conditions are identified as separate entities, most patients with COPD have features of both.

COPD often coexists with comorbidities that can impact the progression and management of the disease. Emphysema, specifically, is a pathological diagnosis that affects the air spaces distal to the terminal bronchiole. It is characterized by abnormal and permanent enlargement of lung air spaces, the destruction of the air space walls without fibrosis, and a loss of elasticity in the lung parenchyma.