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Respiratory Disorders (Expert Forum)
Spirometry results -- can you explain to me?
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Spirometry results -- can you explain to me?
by Her Grace, May 29, 2007 12:00AM
Hello. I was diagnosed with asthma about 8 years ago. I'm now 35 (I'm also a woman, if it makes any difference). I have long periods with few symptoms where I take a low-dose inhaled steroids, and then I have occasional (0-1 times a year) "attacks" where NOTHING seems to control my breathlessness. Right now, I'm in the middle of one of those attacks. I was looking over my latest spirometry and was wondering if someone could help explain it to me:
FVC 1 pred: 4.11 pre 3.13 post 3.05
FEV1 pred: 3.39 pre 2.92 post 2.88
FEV1%FVC pred: 83 pre: 93 post: 94
From what I understand from googling, my FVC is only slightly reduced (roughly 76% of predicted), but my FEV1%FVC is abnormally high, indicating there might be restrictive disease? My doctor has never mentioned anything about restriction.
I have spirometries from 3 years ago and 5 years ago as well. The one from three years ago was very similar to my most recent, but 5 years ago my FVC was in the normal range, but my FEV1/FVC% was 104%. At the bottom of this particular test, it says "mild chest restriction, order lung volumes and DLco if clinically indicated." Those types of tests have never been ordered.
Can anyone explain these test results? Also, I've seriously been condsidering taking a class in the Buteyko method. Does anyone have any information on that? THANKS!
FVC 1 pred: 4.11 pre 3.13 post 3.05
FEV1 pred: 3.39 pre 2.92 post 2.88
FEV1%FVC pred: 83 pre: 93 post: 94
From what I understand from googling, my FVC is only slightly reduced (roughly 76% of predicted), but my FEV1%FVC is abnormally high, indicating there might be restrictive disease? My doctor has never mentioned anything about restriction.
I have spirometries from 3 years ago and 5 years ago as well. The one from three years ago was very similar to my most recent, but 5 years ago my FVC was in the normal range, but my FEV1/FVC% was 104%. At the bottom of this particular test, it says "mild chest restriction, order lung volumes and DLco if clinically indicated." Those types of tests have never been ordered.
Can anyone explain these test results? Also, I've seriously been condsidering taking a class in the Buteyko method. Does anyone have any information on that? THANKS!
Doctor's Answer
by National Jewish, Jun 05, 2007 12:00AM
, Jun 05, 2007 12:00AM
The results of your spirometric testing are consistent with, but not diagnostic of, restrictive lung disease. Such a pattern is uncommon in persons with the clinical diagnosis of asthma, but not rare. It was found in 8% of 1, 020 adults, aged 20 and older in the NHANES III Study, who self-reported physician-diagnosed asthma any time during their life and only half of these were found to have true restrictive disease, on further testing. There have been reports to suggest that small airway inflammation can result in a restrictive pattern in persons with asthma.
The distinction between true restrictive disease and a restrictive pattern not indicative of true restriction can be made, as suggested, with lung volume determination by plethysmography, not helium dilution. It would be appropriate for you to have this test done, and if true restriction is found to have further evaluation for restrictive disease by CT scan. Clearly, one can have restrictive disease superimposed on asthma.
One could not make the diagnosis of asthma, based on these spirometric values. It would be interesting to perform spirometry during one of your attacks and to review your previous spirometries for evidence of reversible airway obstruction.
The fact that your current spirometry is unchanged from that done 3 years ago is actually very good news. This is an indication that you do not have some form of progressive pulmonary disease.
The distinction between true restrictive disease and a restrictive pattern not indicative of true restriction can be made, as suggested, with lung volume determination by plethysmography, not helium dilution. It would be appropriate for you to have this test done, and if true restriction is found to have further evaluation for restrictive disease by CT scan. Clearly, one can have restrictive disease superimposed on asthma.
One could not make the diagnosis of asthma, based on these spirometric values. It would be interesting to perform spirometry during one of your attacks and to review your previous spirometries for evidence of reversible airway obstruction.
The fact that your current spirometry is unchanged from that done 3 years ago is actually very good news. This is an indication that you do not have some form of progressive pulmonary disease.
The other results indicate and obstructive disease (asthma, which you say you have).
You could have a mixed or combined disease process.