Exhaled Air Molecules and Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Chronic airway inflammation,a main pathologic process of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD),can trigger inflammation cells and airway structure cells to produce bioactive molecules,which play key roles in the pathogenesis of COPD and are also an efficient indicators for the diagnosis and treatment of COPD. This article reviews the important roles of these exhaled air molecules in the diagnosis and treatment of COPD,with an attempt to offer new strategies in the management of COPD.