Which spirometry pattern represents restrictive disease?

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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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