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Updated: Aug 9, 2026

Dual Test Gas Pulmonary Diffusing Capacity Measurement During Exercise in Humans Using the Single-Breath Method
Published on: February 2, 2024
[Pulmonary function tests in the family doctor's office]
1Robert-Koch-Klinik, Klinikum St Georg, Leipzig. adrian.gillissen@sanktgeorg.de
Abstract:
The basic diagnostic work-up including history-taking, clinical findings, and simple functional tests alone, suffices to enable the family doctor to rapidly differentiate between an obstructive and a restrictive pulmonary disease. This in particular by determining the "Tiffenau index", the ratio of the forced expiratory volume FEV1 to the forced vital capacity FVC (FEV1/ FVC). The question as to whether an obstructive condition is due to COPD or bronchial asthma is decided on the basis of the bronchospasmolytic test to determine the reversibility of the airways obstruction.
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