Obstructive vs. restrictive lung disease

[Freedom42]

Do I have this right?

Obstructive lung disease: FEV1 is low, FEV1/FVC is low.

Restrictive lung disease: FEV1 is low (?), FEV1/FVC is high (latter ratio may be normal or high, actually).

I can't find an answer to the FEV1 status for restrictive (interstitial) lung disease in my text, and I'm not finding what I'm looking for online, either. Any help appreciated.

[ghillbert, MSN, NP]

FEV1 is reduced in both obstructive and restrictive lung disease - in obstructive disease because of increased airway resistance, and in restrictive disease because of low vital capacity.

It's easy to remember the FEV1/FVC thing if you think about the FVC representing big COPD lungs.. if the FEV1 is the same and the denominator FVC is higher, then the total FEV1/FVC will be lower. Whereas in restrictive disease, you have fibrotic normal sized or small lungs, so the FVC is normal or low, which will make the FEV1/FVC normal or slightly high.

http://www2.nau.edu/~daa/lecture/pft.htm

http://www.clevelandclinicmeded.com/medicalpubs/diseasemanagement/pulmonary/pulmonary-function-testing/#s0150

You'll find useful sites if you google "PFT interpretation"