Includes bibliographic references and index.

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: a worldwide problem / Joan B Soriano and Bernd Lamprecht --
Pathobiologic mechanisms of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / Anthony Tam and Don D Sin --
Genes and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / Marilyn G Foreman, Michael Campos, and Juan C Celedon --
Contribution of the environment and comorbidities to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease phenotypes / Carlos H Martinez and MeiLan K Han --
Role and potential of imaging in COPD / George R Washko --
Importance of the assessment of pulmonary function in COPD / Kristina L Bailey --
Role of exercise in testing and in therapy of COPD / Miguel Divo and Victor Pinto-Plata --
Defining patient-reported outcomes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: the patient-centered experience / Jonathan P Singer and Roger D Yusen --
COPD exacerbations: causes, prevention, and treatment / Alex J Mackay and John R Hurst --
Integrated approach to the medical treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease / Sharon R Rosenberg and Ravi Kalhan --
Medical pneumoplasty, surgical resection, or lung transplant / Francis C Cordova --
Smoking cessation and environmental hygiene / Cheryl Pirozzi and Mary Beth Scholand --
Index

Overview: This issue of Medical Clinics of North America provides the latest essential updates on COPD. The following topics are covered: pathobiological mechanisms; genes and the disease (alpha-l-antitrypsin); the environment, phenotype, and comorbidity; the role and potential of imaging; pulmonary function and its importance; exercise in testing and therapy; patients' perception and quality of life; exacerbations, causes, prevention, and treatment; an integrated approach to the medical treatment; medical pneumoplasty, surgical resection, or lung transplant; and smoking cessation and environmental hygiene