Which condition is characterized by a restrictive lung pattern?

Pulmonary fibrosis is characterized by a restrictive lung pattern due to the progressive scarring of lung tissue. This scarring leads to decreased lung compliance, meaning the lungs become stiffer and require more effort to expand during inhalation. As a result, the total lung capacity (TLC) is often reduced, and patients experience difficulty in fully expanding their lungs. This leads to a decreased forced vital capacity (FVC) as patients have trouble taking in adequate volumes of air.

In contrast, conditions like asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) typically produce obstructive lung patterns, where airflow is impaired during expiration rather than limiting lung volume. Pneumothorax can initially present as restrictive because of the collapse of the lung on the affected side, but it doesn't necessarily fit the chronic, progressive nature that characterizes a restrictive lung pattern like pulmonary fibrosis does. Thus, pulmonary fibrosis is specifically recognized for its long-term restriction of lung capacity and function.