Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is the most commonrespiratory disorder of adults in the developed world and is thefourth main cause of death in the USA. It is also associated withhigh morbidity, and poses an enormous burden of suffering andexpense. Despite this, the disease has received little attentioncompared with other respiratory conditions such as asthma and lungcancer. Current treatment can offer some marginal symptomatic relief butdoes not address the underlying disease process. Indeed, smokingcessation is the only intervention known to alter the rate ofdisease progression. There is clearly great need, and potential,for the development of superior therapies for symptomatic reliefand disease modification. This book brings together leadingresearchers and physicians to discuss the most recent advances inour understanding of COPD, and draws together basic and clinicalaspects relevant to the topic. Coverage includes the basicpathology, current and potential therapies, and detailedconsideration of the major theories for the pathogenesis of COPD.weiterlesen