Respirology

I spent the day yesterday in Respirology clinic. I found it to be great practice at reviewing how to approach PFTs, as I hadn't read one in quite some time. We saw a variety of patients with COPD, asthma, and also a1-antitrypsin deficiency. I learned that in these patients they are often left undiagnosed for quite some time since they may present like someone with COPD. However, they are generally younger when they first present with symptoms. We saw a 54-year-old patient yesterdays with PFTs that would suggest emphysema but in fact he had undiagnosed a1-antitrypsin deficiency. I think this was an important learning point to keep in mind, and to remember to always keep a broad differential.

- JD