PFT's

[ozark]

I had PFT's done with results that said I have mild restrictive disease. I was given a copy. My name was correct on the form but the gender said male but I am female. I don't know what the numbers mean. I'm assuming Ref means reference and those numbers would be for a male for my ht and wt. I was wondering if there's a big difference in reference pts. between male and female and would the results not truly reflect the status of my lung function. I'm 53  ht 68 in and wt 191. And if not, how bad are my results and is restrictive an upper airway problem?  Can asthma/chronic bronchitis/smoking cause this? Thank you for your  help

               Ref     Pre Meas     Pre % Ref
FVC            4.69    3.09          66
FEV1           3.63    2.39          66
FEV1/FVC         77       77
FEF25-75       3.20    2.08          65
FEF50%                 2.87            
PEF            9.31    9.17          99

TLC            6.75     5.17         77  
RV             2.18     2.08         95  
RV/TLC           34       40
FRC N2         3.44
FRC PL         3.44     2.92          85

DLCO           25.5     22.6          89
DL Adj                  22.6
DLCO/VA         4.12     4.95         120  
DL/VA Adj                4.95
VA                        4.57


Thank you for your time.

[National Jewish]

The use of male reference numbers would not truly reflect the status of your lung function.  This would make your lungs look worse than they really are.  Your measured results could be at the lower limits of the female reference numbers, making them normal.  You should ask the pulmonary function lab to re-run your actual results against the appropriate female reference numbers.  Also, reference numbers for Blacks are generally lower than for Caucasians of similar height, age and gender.

[ozark]

I had one more question....is there any treatment/medication ie inhalers that may help if my numbers are truly reflective?
thank you

[EROS]

I don't have time to look up the correct values but I have had a quick scan at your results. You can find the nomal values for your age and sex if you google something like "Spirometry predicted values"

Firstly a few points:

1. The person doing the test has to input your gender correctly. If they get this wrong the % predicted of the normal variant is meaningless. This could cause the machine to report restriction women have smaller lungs than men.

2. DCLO is always reduced in restricitive disease yours is normal.

3. Your FEV/FVC ratio is normal also, a true indicator of any abnormailty. in restrictive disease this is almost always well over 80.

Smoking and asthma are a no go area, take it from me, I know. Asthma is an obstructive disease not restricitive.

If you smoke stop.

Eros.