COPD

Question 1

What is COPD?

Answer 1

Chronic respiratory condition characterised by non-reversible airflow obstruction caused by damage to lung tissue

Question 2

What is the main cause of COPD?

Answer 2

Combination of chronic bronchitis and emphysema as a result of smoking

Question 3

What is bronchitis?

Answer 3

cough and sputum production on most days for at least 3 month during the last 2 years

Question 4

What is emphysema?

Answer 4

Enlarged airspaces distal to the terminal bronchioles with the destruction of the alveolar walls

Question 5

Is the airflow in COPD progressive?

Answer 5

Yes, it does not change markedly over several months and is associated with an abnormal inflammatory response of the lung tissue to certain particles

Question 6

What the the FEV1/FVC ratio that defines COPD patients?

Answer 6

< 70%, however, can be more if they also have signs and symptoms of COPD

Question 7

What causes hypersecretion of mucus in COPD patients?

Answer 7

Marked hypertrophy of mucus-secreting glands and hyperplasia of goblet cells, which decreases the lumen size and increases the gas diffusion distance

Question 8

what happens to the alveoli in COPD patients?

Answer 8

Abnormal dilation of the air spaces and destruction of alveolar walls

Question 9

What happens to the lung tissue?

Answer 9

inflammation and scarring, which decreases the lumen of the airways and decreases lung elasticity

Question 10

What happens to the epithelial layer in COPD patients?

Answer 10

becomes ulcerated and squamous epithelium may be replaced by columnar cells which increases the gas diffusion distance

Question 11

What are the 3 main pathological effects of emphysema in COPD?

Answer 11

Loss of elasticity of the alveoli, inflammation and scarring and mucus hypersecretion

Question 12

Emphysematous bullae form in COPD patients, what are they?

Answer 12

Large closed off air spaces with trapped air inside them

Question 13

What are the 2 pathological effects of chronic bronchitis in COPD?

Answer 13

Enlargement in mucus-secreting glands, and increased number of goblet cells

Question 14

What is the main cell involved in the inflammation seen in COPD?

Answer 14

Neutrophils

Question 15

What are the effects of the inflammation seen in COPD?

Answer 15

scaring and fibrosis of the tissue which thickens the walls of the airway and reduces lumen size -> increases the gas diffusion distance

Bronchoconstriction

Question 16

At what stage is the damage no longer reversible in COPD

Answer 16

When the larger airways become affected