FVC
Last reviewed 01/2018
This is the volume of air expelled by a forced maximal expiration from a position of full inspiration. The value for FVC may be slightly less than for VC.
The FVC is:
- usually 3-6 litres, varying with age, gender and height
- reduced in obstructive and restrictive defects
- correlated with disability in chronic respiratory disaese
The FVC is reduced in both obstructive and restrictive respiratory disease:
- in patients with airways obstruction the FEV1 is disproportionately reduced as compared to the FVC, resulting in a low FEV1/FVC ratio
- in patients with restrictive pulmonary disease the FEV1 and FVC fall proportionately, resulting in normal values for FEV1/FVC