Abstract
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency (AATD) and non-cystic fibrosis bronchiectasis (hereafter referred to as bronchiectasis) are distinct but related airway diseases:
COPD is characterised by persistent and usually progressive airflow limitation associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and lung to noxious particles or gases (1). COPD is a clinical and physiological diagnosis.
AATD is a genetic disorder that causes defective production of alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), leading to decreased AAT activity in the blood and lungs and deposition of excessive abnormal AAT protein in liver cells (2). AATD is a laboratory diagnosis.
Bronchiectasis is characterised by the presence of airway dilatation and wall thickening on imaging (e.g. computed tomography [CT]), with persistent or recurrent bronchial infection (3). Bronchiectasis is a pathological or radiological diagnosis.
Despite differences in the pathobiology of these conditions, they share many of the same clinical features and many of the same challenges. A definitive diagnosis is often complicated by symptom non-specificity as illustrated in a case study.
COPD is characterised by persistent and usually progressive airflow limitation associated with an enhanced chronic inflammatory response in the airways and lung to noxious particles or gases (1). COPD is a clinical and physiological diagnosis.
AATD is a genetic disorder that causes defective production of alpha-1-antitrypsin (AAT), leading to decreased AAT activity in the blood and lungs and deposition of excessive abnormal AAT protein in liver cells (2). AATD is a laboratory diagnosis.
Bronchiectasis is characterised by the presence of airway dilatation and wall thickening on imaging (e.g. computed tomography [CT]), with persistent or recurrent bronchial infection (3). Bronchiectasis is a pathological or radiological diagnosis.
Despite differences in the pathobiology of these conditions, they share many of the same clinical features and many of the same challenges. A definitive diagnosis is often complicated by symptom non-specificity as illustrated in a case study.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | S1-S2 |
| Number of pages | 2 |
| Journal | COPD: Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease |
| Volume | 14 |
| Issue number | Suppl. 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 17 Mar 2017 |
Keywords
- Journal article