Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) represents a complex disease with multifaceted pathophysiology involving over 20 identified genetic mutations that can contribute to disease development.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease is a common respiratory condition involving progressive lung damage. This article, the first in a two-part series, describes its pathophysiology, diagnosis and ...

COPD, the fourth-leading cause of death in the United States, causes obstructed airflow from the lungs, leading to breathing difficulties, coughing and wheezing.

Multiple studies suggest that the mechanisms of lung damage and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) due to biomass smoke differ from COPD caused by smoking cigarettes.

As a result, in COPD patients, respiratory muscles may represent 40% of maximal oxygen consumption and, therefore, are a greater competitor for available energy.

In view of the persuasive evidence that oxidative stress is important in the pathophysiology of COPD, erdosteine appears to be a logical approach to therapy.