title: COPD: exacerbation.
abstract: A renewed interest in the clinical and pathogenic aspects of COPD exacerbation is timely in view of national and global COPD initiatives. The three big problems regarding COPD continue to be the following: prevention of the disease; slowing progression of the disease once diagnosis has been established; and prevention and more effective treatment of the so-called exacerbation. The following assessment will raise more questions than answers and will review some of the past and current concepts and contexts.
authors.affiliation: Division of Pulmonary Sciences and Critical Care Medicine and Department of Pathology, University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Denver, CO 80262, USA. norbert.voelkel@uchsc.edu
authors.forename: N F
authors.initials: NF
authors.lastname: Voelkel
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Tuder
mesh_terms: D001249:Asthma / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D001992:Bronchoalveolar Lavage Fluid / Q000737:chemistry; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D055502:Secondary Prevention; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers