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Aetiology of emphysema
Bulletin Europeen De Physiopathologie Respiratoire
|September 1, 1979
Summary
Cigarette smoking causes enzymes to damage lung tissue, leading to emphysema. Quitting smoking could prevent most cases of this lung disease, except for those with alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency.
Area of Science:
- Pulmonary Medicine
- Biochemistry
- Pathology
Background:
- Emphysema involves lung destruction primarily caused by enzymatic breakdown of pulmonary connective tissues, notably elastin.
- Neutrophil polymorphonuclear leukocytes and alveolar macrophages are identified as likely sources of these destructive enzymes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the link between cigarette smoking and the release of enzymes responsible for emphysema pathogenesis.
- To evaluate the potential for emphysema elimination through smoking cessation.
Main Methods:
- Review of existing evidence on enzymatic lung destruction in emphysema.
- Analysis of the relationship between cigarette smoking and enzyme release.
- Correlation of proposed pathogenesis with epidemiological findings on disease distribution.
Main Results:
- Enzymatic degradation of lung elastin is the primary mechanism in emphysema.
- Cigarette smoking is strongly implicated in the release of these tissue-degrading enzymes.
- The proposed mechanism aligns with epidemiological observations of emphysema distribution.
Conclusions:
- Cigarette smoking is a major factor in the pathogenesis of emphysema by triggering enzyme release.
- Emphysema could be nearly eliminated by abandoning the smoking habit, excluding alpha 1-antitrypsin deficiency cases.