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Differential Diagnosis for FEV1/FVC 87, FEV1 70, FVC 67

Single Most Likely Diagnosis

  • Asthma: The FEV1/FVC ratio is slightly decreased, indicating an obstructive pattern, but the ratio is still relatively high. The significant reduction in both FEV1 and FVC suggests a mixed obstructive and restrictive pattern, but asthma can present with varying degrees of obstruction and sometimes a component of restriction due to airway remodeling or concurrent conditions.

Other Likely Diagnoses

  • Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD): Although the FEV1/FVC ratio is higher than typically seen in COPD, some patients with mild COPD or those with a significant restrictive component may present similarly.
  • Bronchiectasis: This condition can cause obstructive lung disease with a variable degree of airway obstruction and sometimes a restrictive component due to parenchymal damage.
  • Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) with Pulmonary Hypertension: While primarily a sleep disorder, OSA can lead to pulmonary hypertension, which might cause a restrictive pattern on pulmonary function tests (PFTs), and the obstructive component could be from the OSA itself or co-existing conditions like obesity.

Do Not Miss Diagnoses

  • Pulmonary Embolism: Although PFTs are not typically used to diagnose pulmonary embolism, a significant drop in both FEV1 and FVC could be seen in large or multiple pulmonary emboli due to decreased lung perfusion and potential areas of atelectasis.
  • Interstitial Lung Disease (ILD): Certain types of ILD can present with a mixed pattern on PFTs, especially if there's a significant obstructive component due to co-existing conditions or if the disease process affects both the lung parenchyma and airways.

Rare Diagnoses

  • Lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM): A rare lung disease that primarily affects women, leading to cystic lung lesions and can present with obstructive and sometimes restrictive lung function abnormalities.
  • Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with Polyangiitis (Churg-Strauss Syndrome): A form of vasculitis that can affect the lungs, causing both obstructive and restrictive patterns due to inflammation and potential parenchymal damage.
  • Cystic Fibrosis: Typically diagnosed in childhood, but mild forms or late diagnoses can occur in adults, presenting with obstructive lung disease and sometimes a restrictive component due to chronic infection and fibrosis.

Professional Medical Disclaimer

This information is intended for healthcare professionals. Any medical decision-making should rely on clinical judgment and independently verified information. The content provided herein does not replace professional discretion and should be considered supplementary to established clinical guidelines. Healthcare providers should verify all information against primary literature and current practice standards before application in patient care. Dr.Oracle assumes no liability for clinical decisions based on this content.

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