A 43-year-old patient comes to the physician due to dyspnea. The black curve shown below represents the pressure/volume relationship in normal lung tissue. The blue curve represents the pressure/volume relationship in the patient's lung tissue. Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's symptoms?

Question

A 43-year-old patient comes to the physician due to dyspnea.  The black curve shown below represents the pressure/volume relationship in normal lung tissue.  The blue curve represents the pressure/volume relationship in the patient's lung tissue.  Which of the following is the most likely cause of this patient's symptoms?

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

11ec160b_3cdf_964d_9249_0ba4e61cb33b_MD0001_00 The pressure/volume relationship in this patient's lungs depicts dramatically reduced compliance (ie, for any given volume the pressure will be significantly increased). Reduced pulmonary parenchymal compliance is the hallmark of pulmonary fibrosis. (Choice A) Alpha-1 antitrypsin deficiency causes panacinar emphysema and liver cirrhosis. In emphysema, the lung parenchyma has increased compliance. (Choice B) Asthma decreases peak expiratory flow rates and FEV₁ during pulmonary function testing, but it does not decrease lung compliance. (Choice C) Fibromyalgia causes diffuse chronic axial musculoskeletal pain and tenderness. The lung parenchyma is normal. (Choice D) Idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension does not significantly affect lung compliance. Educational objective: Reduction in the slope of the curve depicting lung volume versus distending pressure indicates decreased lung compliance (the hallmark of pulmonary fibrosis).

A 43-Year-Old Patient Comes to the Physician Due to Dyspnea