2018 Volume 35 Issue 1 Pages 38-42
Background : In patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), various guidelines recommend to perform a diachronic pulmonary function test. Furthermore, we pay attention to the usefulness of measuring the vital capacity as percent of predicted (%VC), in addition to measuring the forced vital capacity as percent of predicted (%FVC) at our institute.
Methods : We measured VC and FVC every month. We also examined bulbar paralysis, physical function, and respiratory function based on the ALS usability test scale and their association with %VC and %FVC in 18 patients with ALS. Furthermore, we analyzed the correlation between the spare expiratory reserve volume, inspiratory capacity, and ALSFRS–R total score.
Results : For each ALSFRS–R item, physical function and bulbar paralysis correlated with %FVC and %VC ; however, respiratory function did not correlate with them. In patients with ALS, the diachronic pulmonary function test was useful for estimating physical function and bulbar paralysis. In addition, the inspiratory component of the pulmonary function test correlated with the ALSFRS–R total score.
Conclusion : Multidimensional evaluation of the pulmonary function test is important during follow–up for patients with ALS.
