| Author/Editor | Zupan, Anton; Rozman, Janez; Bresjanac, Mara; Ribarič, Samo | |
| Title | Evaluation of respiratory muscles' strength in patients with neuro-muscular diseases | |
| Type | članek | |
| Vol. and No. | Letnik 7, št. 12 | |
| Publication year | 2013 | |
| Volume | str. 3164-3170 | |
| ISSN | 1840-2291 - HealthMED : Journal of Society for development in new net environment in B&H | |
| Language | eng | |
| Abstract | We report a novel parameter for evaluating thedegree of respiratory muscle failure from forcedexpiration records of patients with neuro-musculardiseases (NMD). Twenty-one NMD patientsand six healthy subjects participated in this pilotstudy. The degree of respiratory muscle failurewas evaluated with the Wright Professional PeakFlow Meter, modified to measure the dynamics ofexpired airflow. Three readings of peak expiratoryflow (Vmax), were made and the highest readingwas selected as the persons representative value. From the ratio of Vmax to the time to rise of Vmaxfrom 10% to 90% (Tr) we calculated a new parameter(Vmax/Tr) or kexp, for evaluating muscle failureduring forced expiration. In NMD patients, thisparameter was considerably smaller and significantlydifferent than in healthy subjects (kexpNMD= 54.54 l/s2 26 versus kexp healthy = 193.55 l/s2 21). The value of kexp decreases with the degreeof respiratory muscle failure and the extentof respiratory muscle failure is related to the typeand progression of the NMD. Respiratory functionwas most severely affected in patients sufferingfrom Duchenne muscular dystrophy, limb-girdlemuscular dystrophy and spinal muscular atrophytype 2. Comparing the Vmax, Tr and kexp values ofpatients and healthy volunteers, we conclude thatthe parameter kexp, is the most sensitive indicatorof the degree of respiratory muscle failure, due toits large dynamic range. Therefore, the parameterkexp enables a more objective assessment of theprogression of the NMD and could contribute toimproved patient treatment. | |
| Keywords | neuro-muscular diseases respiratory diseases muscle failure nevro-mišične bolezni bolezni dihal odpoved mišic |