It is not clear whether your patient has COPD or asthma. Which of ...

[jeatrice]

It is not clear whether your patient has COPD or asthma. Which of the following characteristics is most closely associated with the diagnosis of asthma?
 
  a. Daily phlegm production
  b. Diminished vascularity on the chest radio-graph
  c. Low diffusion capacity
  d. Reversal of the FEV1 after use of a bron-chodilator

Question 2

Which of the following medications is indicated for regular use in patients with stable COPD?
 
  a. Antibiotics
  b. Beta-2 agonists
  c. Corticosteroids
  d. Methylxanthines

[ankilker]

Answer to Question 1

ANS: D
The diagnosis of asthma is favored if the diminished FEV1 obtained on spirometry can be nor-malized after use of an inhaled bronchodilator (reversible airway obstruction).

Answer to Question 2

ANS: B
Although the airflow obstruction from emphysema itself is irreversible, most (up to two-thirds) patients with stable COPD will demonstrate a reversible component of airflow obstruction, de-fined as a 12 and 200-ml rise in the post-bronchodilator FEV1 and/or FVC. For this reason, as indicated in an algorithm developed by the Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Dis-ease (GOLD), bronchodilator therapy is recommended for patients with COPD.