There was statically significant correlation between severity of COPD known from extent of decline of FEV1 and degree of muscle atrophy of specimens taken by Abram's needle in Bergstrom-like technique of obtaining muscle biopsy and graded from zero (normal) to 4 (marked atrophy) according to degree of atrophy as revealed by histopathological examination. Almost 70% of the patients belonged to groups 2 and 3 with mild and moderate muscle atrophy. There was a statistically significant positive correlation between FEV1 and EMG using the needle electrodes for vastus lateralis muscle staged as normal, myopathic or advanced myopathic. There was also a statistically significant correlation between EMG changes and smoking index, number of exacerbations per year and degree of muscle atrophy.