22 May 2017

The seventh meeting of the ILD Support Group took place at St Georges Hospital on Monday 22nd May 2017  between 16:30 – 18:00.

The topic discussed this week was “Understanding your Lung Function Test” and was presented by Dr. Dimitra Nikoletou, Associated Professor at St Georges University of London.

As respiratory patients we are very familiar with the regular round of lung function tests (LFT), however getting to grips with the various numbers and abbreviations which comprise the results can be a challenge and very confusing for patients.

The aims of this session was to help shed light on the meaning behind the numbers and abbreviations. Dr. Dimitra Nikoletou presented a practical session using a ‘real’ patients LFT results to explain their meaning in greater depth.

The session explained the meaning of the following terms and abbreviations as they appear on a standard LFT results form:

• Force Vital Capacity – FVC
• Forced Expiratory Volume in 1 second – FEV₁
• The ratio of FEV₁%/FVC% and its significance
• Diffusing capacity of the lungs for carbon monoxide – DLCO
• Vital capacity – VC
• Residual volume – RV
• Total lung capacity – TLC (VC +RV)

In addition to the above Dimitra also explained the fundamental difference between ‘restrictive’ and ‘obstructive’ lung conditions and how the above reading will vary depending on which lung condition is presented.