Pulmonary Function Testing
Case 10
A 53 year-old woman presents with increasing dyspnea on exertion. She denies cough, fevers, hemoptysis, weight loss or sweats. She was previously an active runner but has had to cut back significantly because of her symptoms with exercise. She does note occasional chest pain with exercise but has not had any syncope or palpitations.
Her pulmonary function tests are as follows:
| Pre-Bronchodilator (BD) | Post- BD | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Test | Actual | Predicted | % Predicted | Actual | % Change |
| FVC (L) | 2.38 | 2.87 | 83 | 2.23 | -6 |
| FEV1 (L) | 1.95 | 2.31 | 84 | 1.93 | -1 |
| FEV1/FVC (%) | 82 | 81 | 87 | ||
| RV (L) | 1.69 | 1.58 | 107 | ||
| TLC (L) | 4.26 | 4.36 | 98 | ||
| RV/TLC (%) | 40 | 36 | |||
| DLCO* corr | 9.96 | 23.25 | 43 | ||
| *DLCO is measured in ml/min/mmHg | |||||
| Check abbreviations>> | |||||
Her flow volume loop is as follows:
Describe the pattern of abnormality, if one is present.
Grade the severity of the abnormality.
Generate a differential diagnosis for the observed abnormality.
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