ATS/ERS Task Force has highlighted that special attention must be paid when FEV1 and FVC are concomitantly decreased (5th percentile) because a possible cause of this non specific pattern (NSP) is collapse of small airways with normal TLC measured by body plethysmography (5th percentile). Our objectives were to determine the main lung diseases associated with this pattern recorded prospectively in a lung function testing (LFT) unit, the prevalence of this pattern in our LFT and among the diseases identified, and its development.
Methods:
Observational study of routinely collected data selected from our Clinical Database Warehouse.
Results:
The prevalence of NSP was 841/12 775 tests (6.6%, 95% CI: 6.2 to 7.0%).
NSP was mainly associated with seven lung diseases: asthma (prevalence of NSP among asthmatics: 12.6%), COPD/emphysema (prevalence 8.6%), bronchiectasis (12.8%), sarcoidosis (10.7%), interstitial pneumonia (4.0%), pulmonary hypertension (8.9%) and bilateral lung transplantation for cystic fibrosis (36.0%). LFT measurements were described in 185 patients with NSP and indisputable nonoverlapping causes.
A moderate defect (FEV1: 66 +/- 9% predicted) with mild lung hyperinflation (FRC: 111 +/- 27%, RV: 131 +/- 33% predicted: suggesting distal airway obstruction) was evidenced whatever the underlying cause. A long term stability of NSP was evidenced in 130 / 185 patients (70% 95% CI: 64 to 77%).
Conclusions:
NSP is observed in asthma, COPD/emphysema, bronchiectasis, sarcoidosis, pulmonary hypertension, interstitial pneumonia and after bilateral lung transplantation and remains stable in the majority of patients.
Author: Brigitte Chevalier-BidaudKarine Gillet-JuvinEtienne CallensRomain ChenuSémia GrabaMohamed EssalhiChristophe Delclaux
Credits/Source: BMC Pulmonary Medicine 2014, 14:148
Published on: 2014-09-19
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