[Pulmonary hypertension and pulmonary embolism in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease].

Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a disease associated with high increasing worldwide mortality. COPD-related mortality is probably underestimated because of difficulties associated with identifying the precise cause of death. Respiratory failure is considered the major cause of death in advanced COPD. Comorbidities such as cardiovascular diseases (pulmonary hypertension, pulmonary embolism, ischemic heart disease, arrhythmia, stroke) are also major causes and in COPD, are leading causes of mortality. The links between COPD and these conditions are not fully understood. However a link through the inflammation pathway has been suggested.