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A significant increase in FEV1 (Forced Expiratory Volume in one second) after bronchodilator administration indicates reversible airway obstruction. This phenomenon is commonly seen in conditions like asthma, where the airways constrict in response to various stimuli, leading to reduced airflow. The administration of a bronchodilator, which relaxes and opens up the airways, typically results in an improvement in airflow and an increase in FEV1.

The degree of improvement can provide valuable information about the nature of the patient's airway obstruction. In cases of reversible obstruction, the patient's lungs are able to respond positively to bronchodilators, indicating that the obstruction is due to bronchospasm or inflammation rather than fixed structural changes.

In contrast, conditions classified as fixed airway obstructions, such as chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), would not show a significant increase in FEV1 following bronchodilator use, as their airway constriction is more permanent. Increased lung compliance pertains more to conditions like emphysema rather than reversible obstruction. Similarly, irreversible lung disease indicates conditions where the lung architecture is permanently altered and typically wouldn't respond to bronchodilators. Thus, a significant increase in FEV1 specifically signifies that there is a reversible component to the