ABSTRACT
Objective To observe the pathological change of visceral pleura in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and to discuss the relationship between the changes and COPD airflow limitation. Methods A total of 70 patients received the pulmonary lobectomy or partial resection because of lung tumor in Tianjin Chest Hospital from May 2014 to August 2015 were selected in this study. According to the results of pulmonary function test, the patients were divided into COPD group [forced expiratory volume in one second (FEV1)/ forced vital capacity (FVC) 0.05). The visceral pleural thickness and the proportion of elastic fibers in visceral pleural were significantly thinner in COPD group than those of control group ( P0.05). Conclusion The thinner visceral pleural and the reduction of elastic fibers in visceral pleural are one of the causes of expiratory airflow limitation in COPD patients.