**Core Concept**
Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease characterized by airway hyperresponsiveness, airflow limitation, and reversible airflow obstruction. Early in an attack, there is an increase in airway resistance due to bronchoconstriction, leading to a decrease in forced expiratory volume (FEV1) and an increase in forced vital capacity (FVC) ratio.

**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
During an asthma attack, the airways constrict due to the release of histamine, leukotrienes, and bradykinin from mast cells, eosinophils, and other inflammatory cells. This leads to an increase in airway resistance, which is reflected by a decrease in FEV1. The FVC remains relatively normal or might increase due to the increased effort to breathe out against the constricted airways. This results in a characteristic increase in the FEV1/FVC ratio.

**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is incorrect because it suggests a normal FEV1 and FVC, which is not typical of an asthma attack where airway resistance increases.

**Option B:** This option is incorrect because it suggests a decrease in FVC, which is not a characteristic finding in early asthma.

**Option C:** This option is incorrect because it suggests a normal FEV1/FVC ratio, which would be more typical of a chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) patient.

**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
A key feature of asthma is the reversible airflow obstruction, which means that the FEV1/FVC ratio returns to normal after treatment with bronchodilators.

**Correct Answer:** .