Certified Pulmonary Function Technologist (CPFT) Practice Exam

A significant decrease in FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in one second) after administering a bronchodilator can indicate reversible airway obstruction, which is a hallmark characteristic of asthma and certain types of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). In healthy individuals or those with normal lung function, the administration of a bronchodilator typically leads to an improvement or maintenance of FEV1 levels. Conversely, if FEV1 decreases significantly, it suggests that the airways are reacting negatively to the bronchodilator, which may indicate the presence of a reversible airway condition where the airway obstruction can fluctuate based on various factors.

In cases of reversible airway obstruction, the airways are narrowed due to inflammation or bronchoconstriction, and bronchodilators work by relaxing the smooth muscle around the airways, thereby opening them up. If instead, we observe a significant decrease post-bronchodilator, it raises concerns about underlying conditions that may not be responsive to bronchodilation, but primarily it reveals a transient nature of the obstructive process in patients with asthma or similar conditions.

The other options do not align with the physiological response expected from a bronchodilator. Permanent lung damage would typically manifest as a non-reversible decrease in FEV1,