Clinical studies of acute exacerbations of COPD are difficult because of the heterogeneous
nature of COPD, diffuse symptoms that can vary spontaneously, and difficulties in defining …

Exacerbations may produce permanent impairment in lung function and health status in
patients with COPD. Up to 70% of episodes have a bacterial etiology, being of mixed viral …

Innate immune responses appear to be partially responsible for maintaining inflammation
and tissue destruction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. In the early stages of the …

New molecular, cellular, and immunologic techniques used to study host–pathogen
interactions have led to a reexamination of the role of infection in chronic obstructive …

Background The etiology of acute exacerbations of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
(COPD) is heterogeneous and still under discussion. Inflammation increases during …

COPD is uniquely situated as a chronic disease at the beginning of the 21st century; it is not
only an established major cause of mortality and morbidity but is increasing in prevalence …

BACKGROUND: Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the fourth leading cause
of death worldwide and, according to the World Health Organization, its prevalence will …

Inflammation is elicited by the host in response to microbes, and is believed to be essential
for protection against infection. However, we have previously hypothesized that excessive or …

Given the high prevalence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the impact of
exacerbations on quality of life, and the costs incurred, effective ways for the prevention of …

Increasing evidence indicates that chronic inflammatory and immune responses play key
roles in the development and progression of COPD. Recent data provide evidence for a role …