Objective To explore the inflammatory mechanisms of pulmonary embolism ( PTE ) and/or deep venous thrombosis ( DVT ) in elders secondary to chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( COPD) exacerbation.Methods A total of 26 elders with acute exacerbation of high-risk COPD secondary PTE and/or DVT and 26 patients with low-risk COPD during stable phase diagnosed during the period of January 2008 to December 2012 were enrolled.The relevant parameters of routine blood examination , blood viscosity, D-dimer, fibrinogen ( FIB), arterial blood gas, blood cytokine, erythrocyte sedimentation rate ( ESR ) and C-reactive protein ( CRP ) were retrospectively analyzed.Results The major nonspecific symptoms were cough, sputum and dyspnea.The mean of neutrophile percentage (N%), D-dimer, FIB, interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor (TNF), C-reactive protein (CRP), low and high shear blood viscosity in blood samples of patients with acute exacerbation of high-risk COPD secondary PTE and ( or ) DVT were higher than those of the control group ( t =3.339, 2.700, 2.207, 2.431, 2.257, 2.143, 2.223, 2.797, all P<0.05).However arterial partial pressure of oxygen ( PaO2 ) was lower than that of lower-risk COPD patients (t=4.312, P<0.05).IL-6 in blood of patients with acute exacerbation of high-risk COPD secondary PTE and ( or) DVT was positively correlated with low-shear blood viscosity , D-dimer and FIB (r=0.437, 0.624, 0.429, all P<0.05).TNF in blood of patients with acute exacerbation of high-risk COPD secondary PTE and ( or ) DVT was positively correlated to FIB , low and high cut blood viscosity ( r =0.624, 0.519, 0.513, all P <0.05 ).Plasma CRP in blood of patients with acute exacerbation of high-risk COPD secondary PTE and/or DVT was positively correlated with D-dimer, FIB, IL-6 and TNF ( r=0.478, 0.541, 0.533, 0.491, all P<0.05).Conclusions Inflammation may exist in elders with acute exacerbation of high-risk COPD secondary thrombotic disease.IL-6 and TNF may promote thrombosis secondary to acute exacerbation of COPD disease.Early screening and/or prophylactic anticoagulation are necessary for prevention.