PFT PRE & POST NUMBERS

[Maricopa]

Regarding transplant consideration, what fev1 numbers are considered the most important in the PFT testing. The numbered results before having taken the inhaled medication, or the fev1 result after taking the inhaler?

[Hidden]

I’m sure someone with more direct experience will be along soon, but my understanding is that post inhaled meds is considered to be your ‘functional’ fev1 for any purpose, including transplant assessment. This is because even with severe lung disease, reversibility can still be really significant in some people, with gains of 10% or more, in which case lower, pre-inhaler values are not accurate: if you have reversibility with a bronchodilator, that’s not permanent loss of function, and the extent of permanent loss is one of the primary criteria for listing for transplant. If you have a pre inhaler fev1 of 35%, but reversibility puts that up to 45%, that’s a marginally better situation to be in than someone who is 35% pre and post.

[Maricopa in reply to Hidden]

Thank you. That is what sounded logical but needed to check. Mine changes post by about +5%