Which spirometry pattern represents restrictive disease?

Study for the Respiratory CAS Exam. Practice with detailed questions and comprehensive explanations to ensure you understand the material thoroughly. Enhance your proficiency and confidence to pass the exam successfully!

Multiple Choice

Which spirometry pattern represents restrictive disease?

Explanation:
In restrictive lung disease, the lungs can’t expand fully, so overall lung volumes drop. On spirometry, this shows up as a reduced FVC, with FEV1 also reduced but typically to a lesser extent. When FVC falls more than FEV1, the FEV1/FVC ratio remains normal or even increases, which is characteristic of restriction. The other patterns point to obstruction—where FEV1 falls more than FVC and the ratio drops—or to a measurement (DLCO) that isn’t a spirometry pattern.

In restrictive lung disease, the lungs can’t expand fully, so overall lung volumes drop. On spirometry, this shows up as a reduced FVC, with FEV1 also reduced but typically to a lesser extent. When FVC falls more than FEV1, the FEV1/FVC ratio remains normal or even increases, which is characteristic of restriction. The other patterns point to obstruction—where FEV1 falls more than FVC and the ratio drops—or to a measurement (DLCO) that isn’t a spirometry pattern.

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