the lung pathology of severe chronic obstructive pulmonary dis-
ease (COPD) has been poorly investigated. We examined surgical
specimens obtained from patients with severe (forced expiratory
volume in 1 second [FEV
1
]
29
3% predicted, n
9) or mild/no
airflow limitation (FEV
1
86
5% predicted, n
9) and similar
smoking history.