Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and autoimmune diseases: unravelling complex interactions

Area of Science:

• Pulmonology
• Immunology
• Autoimmune Diseases

Background:

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) involves progressive lung function decline due to inflammation and emphysema.
• Systemic inflammation, beyond smoking, significantly contributes to COPD development and progression, especially with autoimmune links.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review current evidence on pathophysiological mechanisms linking autoimmune inflammation and COPD.
• To examine the clinical relevance, diagnostic, and therapeutic implications of these associations.

Main Methods:

• Comprehensive literature search in PubMed and Embase (March 2025).
• Inclusion of diverse study designs investigating autoimmune processes and COPD interplay.
• Exclusion of non-English publications and commentaries.

Main Results:

• Evidence suggests a potential association between COPD and autoimmune processes.
• Chronic systemic inflammation is a central factor in these links.
• Immune dysregulation contributes to COPD progression and its connection to autoimmune conditions.

Conclusions:

• Complex interactions between COPD and autoimmune diseases warrant further research.
• Understanding these links can offer new management strategies for patients with co-occurring conditions.
• This represents a growing area of clinical research.