Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease laboratory findings
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease Microchapters |
Differentiating Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease from other Diseases |
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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Philip Marcus, M.D., M.P.H. [2]; Associate Editor(s)-In-Chief: Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [3]
Overview
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease has irreversible airflow limitation specially during forced expiration. This is due to the destruction of lung tissue and increase in resistance to flow in the conducting airways. Thus, it doesn't show an improvement in FEV1 post bronchodilator administration (unlike asthma). This characteristic feature is used as an diagnostic criteria for COPD, i.e. a COPD is diagnosed by spirometry if FEV1/FVC < 70% for a matched control.
Laboratory Tests
COPD is particularly characterized if a ratio of forced expiratory volume over 1 second (FEV1) to forced vital capacity (FVC) being < 0.7 and the FEV1 < 70% of the predicted value when compared with a matched control. [1], [2] (see Spirometry).
The severity of COPD can be classified as follows using spirometry (see above):
Severity | FEV1 /FVC | FEV1 % predicted |
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At risk | >0.7 | ≥80 |
Mild COPD | ≤0.7 | ≥80 |
Moderate COPD | ≤0.7 | 50-80 |
Severe COPD | ≤0.7 | 30-50 |
Very Severe COPD | ≤0.7 | <30 or 30-50 with Chronic Respiratory Failure symptoms |