Obstructive and Restrictive Lung Diseases

Question 1

List the categories of lung disease and the main diseases in each.

Answer 1

Obstructive lung disease: COPD (chronic bronchitis and emphysema (reduced elasticity)), asthma (airway narrowing), bronchiectasis (increased mucus secretions), cystic fibrosis
Restrictive: ARDS, pulmonary fibrosis, granulomatous disease, pneumoconiosis

Question 2

Describe the pathological features and diagnosis of obstructive and restrictive lung diseases, and differentiate between the two.

Answer 2

Obstructive: The airways are narrowed leading to increased resistance and decreased air flow.
FEV1 is decreased, FVC is constant. FEV1/FVC is decreased.
Restrictive: Normal lung movement is restricted. The capacity of the lung is reduced as expansion is limited, due to reduced elasticity
Both FEV1 and FVC are reduced. FEV1/FVC remains constant.