Help with PFT breathing results

General
1

Had a pulmonary function test and the doctor said it showed asthma but this to me shows like intersitual lung disease im so scared! Normally with asthma you have an Increasee in your functional residual capacity not a decrease - and in decrease of residual capacity is normally in restrictive lung disease like pulmonary fibrosis or intersitual lung disease

Spirometry showed a forced vital capacity of 3.5 L which is 95% of predicted and FEV1 2.8 L which is 96% of predicted. FEV1/FVC is 81% the mid flow rates are moderately decreased. Significant improvement seen in mild flow rates with administration of bronchodilater.

THe lung volume shows normal vital capacity and total lung capacity . The functional residual capacity is severely impaired.
The diffusion is midely impaired but when corrected to alveolar volume it is normal.

Conclusion

  1. Spirometry and flow volume loop show small airway disease. Significant improvement seen in mid flow rates with administration of bronchodilator
  2. Lung volumes show significcantly decreased functional residual capacity , but otherwise normal
  3. the diffusion is midly impaired, but when corrected to aleveolar volume it is normal
2

Well the fact that you responded so well to a bronchodilator clearly indicates an asthmatic component

3

its just in asthma you shoudl have increased or normal Fuctional Residual Capacity not Decreased-

those who have decreased have interstitual lung disease :/

4

Hello Potslupus,

I have'nt got a clue how those machines work because i've had severe bronchitis bad since my early 20's and last year the nurse at the doctor's tried me twice with that machine and my lung capacity could'nt make it both times, i went fully dehydrated and she add to rush to get water and she left it well alone afterwards and towards xmas and after for 3-4mths constant coughing and lung pain besides 3 different lots of antibiotic's which did'nt help one bit and in the end i was sent up the hospital for a lung x-ray and they found - Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)...i'd ask for a lung x-ray to make double sure...as Lupus can also cause this besides smoking which is always highly stated on any condition.

Here's a link below on it and symptoms....Hugs Terri :)

http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/health-topics/topics/copd/

5

Maybe you can have the doc go over the findings - the info I found says decreased flow rates equates to asthma or COPD But these tests are complex and throw all sorts of numbers around I don't deign to be able to accurately interpret Response to a bronchodilator shows an asthmatic component to whatever you are diagnosed with Actually good news since treatment can be effective

Type Examples Description FEV1/FVC
restrictive diseases pulmonary fibrosis, Infant Respiratory Distress Syndrome, weak respiratory muscles, pneumothorax volumes are decreased often in a normal range (0.8 - 1.0)
obstructive diseases asthma or COPD volumes are essentially normal but flow rates are impeded often low (Asthma can reduce the ratio to 0.6, Emphysema can reduce the ratio to 0.78

6

thanks everyone :(