02-24-2012, 10:34 AM
A previously healthy 62-year-old man comes to the physician because of a 2-month
history of progressive shortness of breath and a mild nonproductive cough. He
does not smoke. He worked in a foundry most of his adult life before retiring 2
years ago. Vital signs are within normal limits. Crackles are heard at both lung
Bases with no wheezes. Cardiac examination shows an accentuated P2. The
remainder of the examination shows no abnormalities. An x-ray film of the chest
shows prominent interstitial markings at the lung bases. Echocardiography shows
an ejection fraction of 55%. Pulmonary function testing is most likely to show
which of the following?
A) Decreased FEV1:FVC ratio
B) Decreased maximal inspiratory effort
C) Decreased total lung capacity
D) Increased forced vital capacity
E) Normal carbon monoxide diffusion capacity
history of progressive shortness of breath and a mild nonproductive cough. He
does not smoke. He worked in a foundry most of his adult life before retiring 2
years ago. Vital signs are within normal limits. Crackles are heard at both lung
Bases with no wheezes. Cardiac examination shows an accentuated P2. The
remainder of the examination shows no abnormalities. An x-ray film of the chest
shows prominent interstitial markings at the lung bases. Echocardiography shows
an ejection fraction of 55%. Pulmonary function testing is most likely to show
which of the following?
A) Decreased FEV1:FVC ratio
B) Decreased maximal inspiratory effort
C) Decreased total lung capacity
D) Increased forced vital capacity
E) Normal carbon monoxide diffusion capacity