Περιφερικές νευροπάθειες σε ασθενείς με χρόνια αποφρακτική πνευμονοπάθεια

In the present study 28 patients with COAD (25 men and 3 women) were examined clinically and electrophysiologically as well as 21 aged matched controls. Seventeen COAD patients were reexamined after a period of 6-18 months. The respiratory function data include FEV₁, FVC, PO₂, 6 minutes test, dyspnea score (Cotes Scale). The neurophysiological examination dealt with medium, ulnar, peronial, tibial and sural nerves. Terminal latencies, M-response amplitude, evoked muscle action potentials and conduction velocities were studied. We also examined the cardiorespiratory reflexes {which are mediated from the Autonomic Nervous System} in 20 of the 28 patients with COAD and in 12 subjects of the control group. The cardiorespiratory reflexes examined in our study were: heart rate response to Valsava manoeuvre, heart rate variation during deep breathing and heart rate response to standing, systolic blood pressure response after standing and diastolic blood pressure response to sustain handgrip. From the clinical neurological and neurophysiological examination of the COAD patients 14 were normal, 10 had mild peripheral neuropathy (5-10% reduction of conduction velocities in two of the three examined nerves of the lower limbs and touch sensory disturbances) and 4 had severe clinical peripheral neuropathy. 10 subjects of the control group had mild symptoms of peripheral neuropathy and 11 were normal. The statistical analysis of neurorophysiological data show a significant reduction of the conduction velocities of the lower limb nerves (peronial, tibial and sural) in COAD patients compared with that of the control group. The percentange of the patients with abnormal F-waves latency of the lower limb nerves was statistically significantly higher in COAD patients compared to the subjects of the control group. The correlation between the respiratory function data and the motor conduction velocities of the lower limb nerves was statistically significant. A statistically significant impairment of the cardiorespiratory reflexes was also observed in patients with COAD compared to the control group. We conclude that the patients with COAD developed signs of peripheral neuropathy {mainly neurophysiological} in the lower limbs, as well as impairment of the autonomic nervous system. The possible cause of these findings is probably the effect of hypoxic on the peripheral nerves.

Grantor dc:publisher

Aristotle University Of Thessaloniki (AUTH)

Year dc:date

1990

Authors dc:creator

• Kontakiotis, Theodoros
• Κοντακιώτης, Θεόδωρος

• Ιατρική και Επιστήμες Υγείας
• Κλινική Ιατρική
• Medical and Health Sciences
• Clinical Medicine

Language dc:language

gre

Identifier

10.12681/eadd/1468

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:10442/1468