[Pathogenesis, diagnosis and treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in the light of new research].

Accurate number of patients with chronic obtructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is difficult to determine, both in Poland and in the world. Quoted estimates and fragmented with the research indicate that approx. 10% of the world's population may be burdened by this disease. As it turns out, COPD is recognized in 25-45% in non-smokers, suggesting a genetic link. This is confirmed by new data that indicates that further embodiments having genetic polymorphisms associated with the occurrence of the disease. It was further found that the allele GC-1F vitamin D were risk factor for development of COPD. It is emphasized that respiratory epithelial cells directly responsible for the response to inhaled agents. Attention was also drawn to the role of eosinophiles. It has been shown that in patients with COPD with the dominant of eosinophilic faction glucocorticoids work very efficiently, indicating the validity of the division to "responders" and "non-responders" for treatment. As a new biomarker for COPD is proposed irisin, released from skeletal myocytes, which is beneficial to exercise tolerance in patients with COPD.