PMID- 15653977
OWN - NLM
STAT- MEDLINE
DCOM- 20050222
LR  - 20051108
IS  - 0012-3692 (Print)
IS  - 0012-3692 (Linking)
VI  - 127
IP  - 1
DP  - 2005 Jan
TI  - Increasing peak expiratory flow time in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis.
PG  - 156-60
AB  - BACKGROUND: Serial measurements of pulmonary function to indicate decreasing 
      respiratory muscle strength in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) 
      is well documented. Quantitative outcome measures include declining FVC, FEV1, 
      maximal inspired pressure, maximal expired pressure, and maximal voluntary 
      ventilation. Increasing peak expiratory flow time (PEFT) may represent a further 
      sensitive measure of declining respiratory muscle strength in ALS. METHODS: 
      Fifty-five patients with ALS performed flow-volume loops serially after 
      presentation. The percentage change from baseline values for FVC, peak expiratory 
      flow (PEFR), and PEFT were compared using Spearman correlation coefficients. The 
      prolongation of PEFT with serial tests was analyzed using a Kruskal-Wallis with a 
      Dunn multiple comparison test. Bulbar-onset and limb-onset PEFT was compared 
      using the Mann-Whitney test. RESULTS: PEFT was significantly increased from 
      baseline values at all follow-up tests. However, PEFTs measured at the third, 
      fourth, fifth, and sixth visits, although higher, were not significantly 
      different. Significant negative correlations existed between the increase in PEFT 
      and the decrease in PEFR and FVC. Significant positive correlations existed 
      between the increase in PEFT and days from diagnosis and the decrease in PEFR and 
      decrease in FVC. CONCLUSION: PEFT increases significantly and linearly with time 
      in patients with ALS and may begin to plateau with bulbar symptoms. PEFT 
      increases at a faster rate than the rate of decline in both FVC and PEFR. PEFT is 
      a quantitative measure of decreasing pulmonary function in ALS that is easily 
      measured.
FAU - Wilson, Steven R
AU  - Wilson SR
AD  - Division of Respirology, London Health Sciences Center, London, ON, Canada.
FAU - Quantz, Mackenzie A
AU  - Quantz MA
FAU - Strong, Michael J
AU  - Strong MJ
FAU - Ahmad, Dildar
AU  - Ahmad D
LA  - eng
PT  - Journal Article
PL  - United States
TA  - Chest
JT  - Chest
JID - 0231335
SB  - IM
CIN - Chest. 2005 Sep;128(3):1889-90. PMID: 16162806
MH  - Aged
MH  - Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis/*physiopathology
MH  - Female
MH  - Forced Expiratory Volume
MH  - Humans
MH  - Male
MH  - Middle Aged
MH  - Peak Expiratory Flow Rate
MH  - Respiratory Muscles/*physiopathology
MH  - Vital Capacity
EDAT- 2005/01/18 09:00
MHDA- 2005/02/23 09:00
CRDT- 2005/01/18 09:00
PHST- 2005/01/18 09:00 [pubmed]
PHST- 2005/02/23 09:00 [medline]
PHST- 2005/01/18 09:00 [entrez]
AID - S0012-3692(15)32386-2 [pii]
AID - 10.1378/chest.127.1.156 [doi]
PST - ppublish
SO  - Chest. 2005 Jan;127(1):156-60. doi: 10.1378/chest.127.1.156.