Isolated Volume Response to a Bronchodilator and GOLD Classification in Patients with COPD.

Hur, Gyu Young; Lee, Seung Hyeun; Jung, Jin Yong; Kim, Se Joong; Lee, Kyoung Ju; Lee, Eun Joo; Jung, Hye Cheol; Lee, Sung Yong; Lee, Sang Yeub; Kim, Je Hyeung; Shin, Chol; Shim, Jae Jeong; In, Kwang Ho; Kang, Kyung Ho; Yoo, Se Hwa

doi:2005.59.1.23

Tuberc Respir Dis > Volume 59(1); 2005 > Article

Original Article

Tuberculosis and Respiratory Diseases 2005;59(1):23-29.
DOI: https://doi.org/10.4046/trd.2005.59.1.23 Published online July 1, 2005.

Isolated Volume Response to a Bronchodilator and GOLD Classification in Patients with COPD.

Gyu Young Hur, Seung Hyeun Lee, Jin Yong Jung, Se Joong Kim, Kyoung Ju Lee, Eun Joo Lee, Hye Cheol Jung, Sung Yong Lee, Sang Yeub Lee, Je Hyeung Kim, Chol Shin, Jae Jeong Shim, Kwang Ho In, Kyung Ho Kang, Se Hwa Yoo

Department of Internal Medicine, Korea University Medical Center, Korea. jaejshim@kumc.or.kr

Abstract

BACKGROUND
Chronic obstructive lung disease is characterized by smoke-related, gradually progressive, fixed airflow obstructions. However, some studies suggested that a reversible bronchial obstruction is common in chronic obstructive lung disease. Such reversibility persists despite the continued treatment with aerosolized bronchodilators and it appears to be related to the diminution in symptoms. The isolated volume response to a bronchodilator is defined as a remarkable increase in the FVC in response to the administration of a bronchodilator whereas the FEV1 remains unchanged. This has been suggested in patients with severe emphysema. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the relationship between the response to a bronchodilator and the severity of an airflow obstruction in COPD patients using the GOLD classification. METHODS: This study examined 124 patients with an airway obstruction. The patients underwent spirometry, and the severity of the airflow obstruction was classified by GOLD. The response groups were categorized by an improvement in the FVC or FEV1 > 12%, and each group was analyzed. RESULTS: Most subjects were men with a mean age of 65.9+/-8.5 years. The mean smoking history was 41.26+/-20.1 pack years. The isolated volume response group had relatively low FEV1 and FVC values compared with the other groups. (p<0.001) CONCLUSION: In this study, an isolated volume response to a bronchodilator is a characteristic of a severe airway obstruction, which is observed in patient with a relatively poorer baseline lung function.

Key Words: COPD, Bronchodilator, GOLD, Isolated volume response