Restrictive Lung Disorders

• diverse set of diseases
  • include pulmonary fibrosis, pneumoconiosis, ARDS
• characterized by restrictive pattern on spirometry
  • reduction in lung volumes
• impaired lung expansion
• extrinsic causes
  • abnormal chest expansion: neuromuscular disease (e.g. ALS, polio) or skeletal disease (kyphosis, scoliosis)
• intrinsic causes
  • abnormal lung: lung itself is abnormal and less compliant (“stiff”)
    

Extrinsic Causes:

• neuromuscular disease
  • weakness in inspiratory and/or expiratory muscles
  • difficult to generate enough pressure gradient to allow air flow
• skeletal disease
  • restrict ability of thorax to expand during inspiration
  • kyphosis: abnormal “arching” of spine
  • scoliosis: abnormal lateral curvature of spine