Tobacco Smoking May Play a Central Role
in the Pathogenesis of Vascular Abnormalities
in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Ovidiu Fira-Mladinescu1, Corneluta Fira-Mladinescu2, and Danina M. Muntean1

1 Departments of Pathophysiology and
2 Hygiene, Victor Babeş University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Timişoara, Romania

Corresponding author: Ovidiu Fira-Mladinescu
    Z. Steaua, bl.24, sc.A, ap.4
    RO-1900 Timişoara, Romania
    Telephone: +40-56-220479
    Fax number: +40-56-220479
    E-mail address: ofira@posta.umft.ro

CEJOEM 2002, Vol.8. No.2–3.:208–212

Key words:
Tobacco smoking, endothelial dysfunction, pulmonary vascular remodelling, pulmonary hypertension, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Abstract:
Recent studies have shown that structural abnormalities and endothelial dysfunction of the pulmonary arteries are present in patients with mild chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) usually without hypoxemia. At these initial stages, the potential mechanisms of vascular damage include effects of cigarette smoke components and inflammatory processes. The present in vitro study was designed to investigate the endothelial function of small pulmonary arteries and to evaluate the morphology of pulmonary-vessels in smokers without and with mild COPD-induced lesions. The vascular reactivity of pulmonary artery (PA) rings from pulmonary segments of patients undergoing lung resection was studied. The results indicate impaired relaxation to the endothelium-dependent vasodilatator acetylcholine in smokers with mild COPD. Moreover, in these patients as well as in smokers with normal lung function, the small pulmonary arteries also presented an intimal thickening. In conclusion, smoking may play a central role in the pathogenesis of the functional and structural alterations of the pulmonary circulation in COPD.

Received:  3 July 2002
Accepted:  27 September 2002
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