Genetic Risk Factors in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

Abstract

The role of genetic factors in development of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is accepted in general. However, other than alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency which alone can lead to COPD, the studies performed longer than half a century did not yield any certain result on the genetics of COPD. Regarding the data available, it can be said that addition of environmental factors like cigarette smoking on interrelations between genetic abnormalities are responsible for COPD development. No doubt that the role of genetics on COPD development will continue to be one of the important research issues in future too.