Is the Slow Vital Capacity Clinically Useful to Uncover Airflow Limitation in Subjects With Preserved FEV1/FVC Ratio?

摘要

BACKGROUND: FVC may underestimate the slow vital capacity (SVC) due to early closure of the small airways at low lung volumes in the forced maneuver. It remains unclear whether using SVC instead of FVC in the FEV1/vital capacity (VC) ratio increases the yield of spirometry in detecting airflow limitation or, alternatively, leads to a false-positive finding for obstruction.