Morphometric characteristics of microvasculature vessels of the bronchial tree in smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

The aim of the study was to reveal the peculiarities of the vessels of microvasculature within lamina propria of the bronchial mucosa in smokers with and without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease on the basis of light-optical and ultrastructural analysis of bronchobiopses. Material and Methods. A morphological study of the bronchial mucosa in smoking patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and without it, with an emphasis on the morphometric analysis vessels of microvasculature was performed. A one-stage study of 115 smokers aged 40 to 60 years (58.3±3.24 years) was made (men predominated - 90.9%). Results. In the group of smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, in contrast to the comparison group, signs of vascular remodeling and microcirculation disturbances were revealed which were manifested by endothelial dysfunction, an increase in volume density of connective tissue of lamina propria of bronchial mucosa with predominant perivascular localization, which was accompanied by a decrease in the relative volume of capillaries (p=0.016) and a decrease in the specific volume of micropinocytosis vesicles (p=0.005) and the size of Weibel - Paladi secretory granules (p=0.004) in endothelial cells. Conclusion. Structural changes of compensatory character without signs of remodeling of vessels of bronchial wall were recorded in group of smokers without chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in bronchus. Morphological signs of endothelial dysfunction, hemodynamic disorders, perivascular fibrosis with reduction of the microvasculature were observed in group of smokers with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.