ABSTRACT
AIM: To study characteristics of phenotypes of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) basing on the findings of modern clinical, functional and roentgenomorphological tests in the course of the disease. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Basing on the results of high performance computed tomography, 64 COPD patients aged 46-75 years (FEV1 51 +/- 24%) were divided into two groups: 53 patients with emphysematous phenotype (group 1) and 11 patients with bronchytic phenotype (group 2). The groups were compared by constitutional, clinical, functional and roentgenological parameters. RESULTS: Group 1 patients had significantly less body mass index, more severe edema by Borg's scale, low FEV1, FEV1/FLC, diffuse lung capacity and lung tissue density compared to group 2. Bronchoectases occurred more frequently in group 1 (33 and 9%, respectively). CONCLUSION: Heterogenous COPD phenotypes differ not only at the stage of chronic respiratory insufficiency but also at all stages of the disease.