Acute Exacerbations of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Definitions, Nikos Siafakas and Nicholas Anthonisen; epidemiology of AECOPD, J. Vestbo; effect of AECOPD on the natural history and lung function, Nicholas Anthonisen, E. Lampiri, E. Argiana and S. Schiza; economic burden of AECOPD, S. Ramsey; pathophysiology of AECOPD, W. MacNee; pathology of AECOPD, P. Jeffery, M. Saetta and J. Zhu; biomarkers of AECOPD, R. Stockley; AECOPD - a systemic disease? E. Wouters; causes of AECOPD, W. Wedzicha; symptoms - signs of AECOPD, Dimitris Georgopoulos, E. Kondili and Nicholas Anthonisen; pulmonary gas exchange in AECOPD, Frederico P. Gomez and Roberto Rodriguez-Roison; radiology of AECOPD, K. Malagari and Voloudaki; assessment of severity of AECOPD, S. Rennard and C. Piquette; heart-lung interaction, Zoheir Bshouty; muscle function (and respiratory) in AECOPD, M. Decramer, T. Troosters and R. Gosselink; water/electrolyte imbalances in AECOPD, L. Fabbri; metabolism/nutrition in AECOPD, A. Schols; end-stage disease and AECOPD, B. Celli; sleep and AECOPD, W. McNicholas; antibiotics, Nicholas Anthonisen and Nikos Siafakas; bronchodilators, Nicholas Anthonisen; steroids, D. Niewoehner and K.L. Rice; oxygen, Nikos Siafakas and I. Mitrouska; others, Nikos Siafakas, N. Tzanakis and Eva Papadopouli; non-invasive ventilation, M. Elliot; invasive ventilation, Dimitris Georgopoulos and A. Rossi; weaning from the ventilator, A. Jubran; rehabilitation during AECOPD, N. Ambrossino and R. Porta; home management of AECOPD, J. Roca; hospital management of AECOPD, A. Agusti, E. Sala and M. Carrera; AECOPD as outcome of therapeutical interventions, Nikos Siafakas, J. Kottakis and M. Froudarakis; future research, P. Barnes.