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Previous Volume 350:2689-2697 June 24, 2004 Number 26 Next

	Since this article has no abstract, we have provided an extract of the first 100 words of the full text and any section headings.

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Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a syndrome of progressive airflow limitation caused by chronic inflammation of the airways and lung parenchyma.¹ The primary physiological abnormality in COPD is an accelerated decline in the forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV₁) from the normal rate in adults over 30 years of age of approximately 30 ml per year to nearly 60 ml per year.² As shown in Figure 1, the disease course begins with an asymptomatic phase in which lung function deteriorates without associated symptoms. The onset of the subsequent symptomatic phase is variable but often does not . . . [Full Text of this Article]

Diagnosis, Staging, and Prognosis

Management of Stable COPD

Health Care Maintenance

            Regular Assessment of Lung Function

            Smoking Cessation

            Vaccination

Drug Therapy

            Inhaled Bronchodilators

            Theophylline

            Inhaled Corticosteroids

            Oral Corticosteroids

Supplemental Therapy

            Pulmonary Rehabilitation

            Treatment of Abnormal Gas Exchange

            Surgery

Source Information

From the Department of Medicine, National Jewish Medical and Research Center; and the Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center — both in Denver.

Address reprint requests to Dr. Cherniack at 1400 Jackson St., J-208, Denver, CO 80206.

Related Letters:

Management of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
Eltzschig H. K., Eckle T., Felbinger T. W., Lavietes M. H., Kumar S., Sinha B., Joy M., Sutherland E. R., Cherniack R. M.
Extract | Full Text | PDF  
N Engl J Med 2004; 351:1461-1463, Sep 30, 2004. Correspondence

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