Lung hyperinflation is a critical characteristic of pathophysiological changes in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and is associated with the severity and prognosis of the disease. In an attempt to understand the importance of lung hyperinflation in the pathogenesis of chronic lung disease, we will discuss in this review the understanding of the disease, measurements of lung hyperinflation in COPD, clinical findings of lung hyperinflation in emphysema, potential mechanisms of lung hyperinflation, its potential reversibility and comparison of lung hyperinflation between asthma and COPD. Multiple factors may contribute to the development of lung hyperinflation, including compromised alveolar walls, increased intra-airway pressure, inflammation, goblet cell hyperplasia and metaplasia and tissue remodeling. The development of new technology to measure lung hyperinflation will be helpful in the diagnosis and monitoring of the disease. Improvement in lung hyperinflation should become one of the most important criteria to evaluate the therapeutic effects of drugs.
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