Scherr A, Schumann DM, Karakioulaki M, et al. - Researchers undertook this prospective, monocentric analysis in a cohort of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patients to investigate the efficacy of endothelial dysfunction, ascertained by reactive hyperemia peripheral arterial tonometry, in evaluating disease severity as well as systemic burden in these patients. The link between reactive hyperemia index, augmentation index and disease severity as well as outcome parameters was assessed. Findings revealed a common prevalence of endothelial dysfunction among patients with COPD. However, it did not appear to be predictive of disease severity or outcome and did not alter during exacerbations of the disease.