The role of endothelial dysfunction and arterial rigidity in pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (Review)

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease with progressive dysfunction of external respiration due to inflammatory reaction of pulmonary tissue to irritation by different pathogenic agents and gases. According to population-based studies. COPD patients have a 2-3'-foldhigher risk of cardiovascular death, while the number of lethal outcomes comprise about 50% of total number of deaths. As shown by the evidence from studies, COPD patients demonstrate high arterial rigidity and endothelial dysfunction. It is important that these changes can be corrected with phannacological and non-pharmacological impacts. Examination of structural-functional vascular changes in COPD patients is of great clinicopivgnostic importance and can modify therapeutic andpwphylactic approaches to COPD.