2. Overview
What is COPD?
How do I know if I have COPD?
How common is it?
– General population
– Mining population
What increases my risk of developing
COPD?
How can I prevent getting COPD?
How is COPD treated?
3. What is COPD?
A set of lung diseases that limit air flow
and is not fully reversible.
– COPD patients report they are “hungry” for
air
– Usually progressive and is associated with
inflammation of the lungs as they respond
to noxious particles or gases
– Potentially preventable with proper
precautions and avoidance of precipitating
factors
– Symptomatic treatment is available
4. Two Major Causes of COPD
Chronic Bronchitis is characterized by
– Chronic inflammation and excess mucus
production
– Presence of chronic productive cough
Emphysema is characterized by
– Damage to the small, sac-like units of the
lung that deliver oxygen into the lung and
remove the carbon dioxide
– Chronic cough
5. What can cause COPD?
Smoking is the primary risk factor
– Long-term smoking is responsible for 80-90 % of
cases
Prolonged exposures to harmful particles and
gases from:
– Industrial smoke,
– Chemical gases, vapors, mists & fumes
– Dusts from grains, minerals & other
materials
6. Other Risk Factors for COPD
History of childhood respiratory infections
Genetic makeup
Increasing age
9. Emphysema
Pathology (Histology)
– Hyperinflation of alveoli
– Destruction of alveolar walls
– Destruction of alveolar capillary walls
– Narrowed airways
– Loss of lung elasticity
– Small bronchioles become obstructed as a result of
• Mucus
• Smooth muscle spasm
• Inflammatory process
• Collapse of bronchiolar walls
10. Emphysema
Emphysema is an enlargement of air
spaces caused by destruction of alveolar
walls.
Air spaces greater than one cm are
bullae.
This photo shows apical bullous
disease with relatively little involvement
of the rest of the lung.
11. Chronic Bronchitis
Pathology (Histology)
Pathologic lung changes are:
Hyperplasia of mucus-secreting glands in trachea and
bronchi
Increase in goblet cells
Disappearance of cilia
Chronic inflammatory changes and narrowing of small
airways
Hyperplasia of mucus glands
Inflammatory swelling
Excess, thick mucus
Altered of alveolar macrophages infections
13. Chronic Bronchitis
Chronic bronchitis:
Scarring or fibrosis of the walls of
the bronchioles causing narrowing of
the airway
Production of excessive quantities
of thick mucus which further plugs
the tubules and compromises
breathing
14. Primary Symptoms
Chronic Bronchitis
– Chronic cough
– Shortness of breath
– Increased mucus
– Frequent clearing of throat
Emphysema
– Chronic cough
– Shortness of breath
– Limited activity level
Death from emphysema is related to:
1. Pulmonary failure with respiratory acidosis, hypoxia and coma.
2. Right-sided heart failure.
15. Difference between COPD and Asthma
In COPD there is permanent damage to the airways.
The narrowed airways are fixed, and so symptoms are
chronic (persistent). Treatment to open up the airways,
is therefore limited.
In asthma there is inflammation in the airways which
makes the muscles in the airways constrict.
This causes the airways to narrow. The symptoms
tend to come and go, and vary in severity from time to
time.
Treatment to reduce inflammation and to open up the
airways usually works well.
COPD is more likely than asthma to cause a chronic
(ongoing) cough with sputum.
16. Difference between COPD and asthma (cont…)
Night time waking with breathlessness or
wheeze is common in asthma and uncommon
in COPD.
COPD is rare before the age of 35 whilst
asthma is common in under-35.
18. Ways to prevent or slow the
progression of COPD
Stop smoking, if you smoke, to prevent
further damage to your body
– Smoking cessation is critical for all severities of
COPD
Avoid or protect yourself from exposures to
– Second-hand smoke
and
– Other substances such as chemical
vapors, fumes, mists, dusts, and diesel
exhaust fumes that irritate your lungs
19. How is COPD Treated?
COPD can be managed, but not cured
Treatment is different for each individual and
is based on severity of the symptoms
Early diagnosis and treatment can
– Slow progress of the disease
– Relieve symptoms
– Improve an individual’s ability to stay active
– Prevent and treat complications
– Improve quality of life
20. When should you see your doctor?
If smoker, see doctor for baseline evaluation of your
lungs
When first experiencing shortness of breath or having
other lung symptoms
When your symptoms get worse
Seek emergency medical treatment if:
Breathing suddenly becomes more difficult
If diagnosed with chronic bronchitis, emphysema or
COPD, see doctor 1-2 times yearly to review your
treatment plan
21. What medications are used to
treat symptoms?
Short-acting bronchodilator inhalers
such as salbutamol and terbutaline
Long-acting bronchodilator inhalers
such as salmeterol (Seretide), formoterol (flutiform)
Bronchodilators – Theophylline tablets
Relaxes muscles around airways
Oxygen therapy
Helps with shortness of breath
23. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary
Diseases
Bronchial asthma
Chronic relapsing inflammatory disorder
characterized by hyperactive airways leading to
episodic, reversible bronchoconstriction owing to
increased responsiveness of the tracheobronchial
tree to various stimuli.
It has been divided into two basic types:
1. Extrinsic asthma.
2. Intrinsic asthma.
24. Extrinsic Asthma
Initiated by type 1
hypersensivity reaction induced
by exposure to extrinsic
antigen like food, pollen, dust,
etc.
Subtypes include:
a. atopic (allergic) asthma.
b. occupational asthma.
c. allergic bronchopulmonary
aspergillosis.
Develop early in life
Intrinsic Asthma
• Initiated by diverse,
non-immune mechanisms,
including ingestion of
aspirin, pulmonary
infections, cold, inhaled
irritant, stress and exercise.
• No personal or family
history of allergic reaction.
• Develop later in life
CLASSIFICATION OF ASTHMA
25.
26.
27. **Some Potential Asthma Triggers**
Allergens — Pollen, pet dander, fungi, dust mites
Cold air
Fragrances and chemicals
Food and drinks
Pollutants
Cigarette smoke
Strong emotions
Exercise
Respiratory tract infections
Bronchial asthma
28. Extrinsic Asthma
Atopic (allergic) asthma is the most common form,
begins in childhood
Other allergic manifestation: allergic rhinitis, urticaria,
eczema.
Other family member is also affected
29. Pathogenesis of Bronchial Asthma
Exaggerated Bronchoconstriction
Two components:
1. Chronic airway inflammation.
2. Bronchial hyperresponsiveness.
The mechanisms have been best studied in atopic
asthma.
31. Pathogenesis of Atopic Asthma
• IgE-mediated reaction to inhaled allergens elicits:
1. acute response (within minutes)
2. a late phase reaction (after 4-8 hours)
In the airway – initial sensitization to antigen
(allergen) with stimulation of TH2 type T cells and
production of cytokines (IL-4, IL- 5, and IL-13).
32. Pathogenesis of Atopic Asthma
Acute-phase response
Begin 30 to 60 minutes after inhalation of antigen.
Mast cells on the mucosal surface are activated.
Mediator produced are :
Leukotrienes C4, D4 & E4 (induce bronchospasm, vascular permeability &
mucous production)
Prostaglandins D2, E2, F2 (induce bronchospasm and vasodilatation)
Histamine ( induce bronchospasm and increased vascular permeability)
Platelet-activating factor (cause agggregation of platlets and release of
histamine)
Mast cell tryptase (inactvate normal bronchodilator).
Mediators induce bronchospasm, vascular
permeability & mucous production.
33. Pathogenesis of Atopic Asthma
Late phase reaction:
Recruitment of leukocytes mediated by product of mast
cells including:
1. Eosinophil and neutophil chemotactic factors
2 . IL-4 & IL-5 and induceTH2 subset ofCD4+ T cells
3. Platelet-activating factor
4. Tumor necrosis factor.
Other cell types are involved: activated epithelial cells,
macrophages and smooth muscle.
34. Pathogenesis of Atopic Asthma
Late phase reaction:
The arrival of leukocytes at the site of mast cell
degranulation lead to:
1. Release of more mediators to activate more mast
cells
2. Cause epithelial cell damage .
Eosinophils produce major basic protein, eosinophilic
cationic protein and eosinophil peroxidase ( toxic to
epithelial cells).
These amplify and sustains injury without additional
antigen.
35.
36. Non-Atopic Asthma
Triggered by respiratory tract infection including
viruses and inhaled air pollutants e.g. sulfur dioxide,
ozone.
Positive family history is uncommon.
Serum IgE – normal.
No other associated allergies.
Skin test – negative.
Hyperirritability of bronchial tree.
Subtypes:
1. Drug-induced asthma.
2. Occupational asthma.
37. Morphology of Asthma
Grossly: - Lung over distended
(over inflation), occlusion of bronchi
and bronchioles by thick mucous.
Histological finding:
mucous contain Curschmann
spirals, eosinophil and Charcot-
Leyden crystals.
Thick BM.
Edema and inflammatory
infiltrate in bronchial wall.
Submucosal glands increased.
Hypertrophy of the bronchial
wall muscle.
40. Clinical signs
Classic asthmatic attack –
Dyspnea, Persistent/recurrent cough
Wheezing
Chest tightness
Difficult expiration, progressive hyperinflation of lung and
mucous plug in bronchi.
Status asthmaticus – severe cyanosis and persistent
dyspnea, may be fatal.
May progress to emphysema.
41. 41
Diagnosis
Spirometry
Breathing test which measures the amount and rate at which air
can pass through the airways
Bronchodilator Reversibility Testing
Relaxing tightened muscles around the airways and opening up
airways quickly to ease breathing
Other pulmonary function testing
Diffusion capacity
Chest X-ray
Arterial Blood Gas
Shows oxygen level in blood
42. 42
Asthma Medications: Bronchodilators
β2-adrenergic agonists
Rapid onset: quick relief of bronchoconstriction
Acts in minutes, lasts 4 to 8 hours
Treatment of choice for acute attacks
If used too much causes tremors, anxiety, tachycardia, palpitations,
nausea
Short-acting
Albuterol(Proventil, Ventolin); metaproterenol (alupent); bitolterol
(tornalate)
Continuous β-adrenergic agonist nebulizer therapy may be given
Bronchodilators : Theophylline (relaxing bronchial
smooth muscle, anti-inflammatory effects)
43. Asthma
Drug Therapy
Antiinflammatory drugs
Corticosteroids (e.g., beclomethasone, budesonide)
Suppress inflammatory response
Inhaled form is used in long-term control
Systemic form to control exacerbations and manage
persistent asthma
47. Case Study
A 64 year old gentleman presents to emergency
department with shortness of breath, cyanosed lips and
cough productive of thick, green sputum. He has a past
medical history of asthma as well he has smoked 20
cigarettes a day for the past 40 years. Physical examination
showed heart rate 144, respiratory rate 40, PaO2/Fio2=.21.
.O/E he is using his accessory muscles to breathe,
bilateral diffuse coarse crepitations and widespread
wheeze.
Identify the diagnosis of the disease and describe the pathogenesis
of both condition.
Describe the pathological changes in lung section.
Describe the treatment options for the patient.
Editor's Notes
This section of centriacinar emphysema shows the enlarged air spaces around a small airway. Respiratory epithelium remains at the arrow. The more peripheral alveoli are normal.
Image: http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/dci/Diseases/Asthma/Asthma_WhatIs.html
Figure A: location of lungs in the body and airways in the lungs.
Figure B: a normal, non-asthmatic airway.
Figure C: an airway during asthmatic symptoms. The airway is narrowed, limiting air flow. Tightened muscles constrict air flow, as do inflamed and thickened airways. Excess mucus clogs the airway.