Respiratory function in amyotrophiclateral sclerosis

Abstract. The aim of this study was to examine the vital capacity(FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV 1) in relation tothe site of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) onset and theduration of the disease. Respiratory involvement is theprincipal cause of death in ALS patients. The study wasconducted at the Department of Neurology, University School ofMedicine in Lublin. The study comprised 18 ALS patients. Theaverage duration of ALS was 12 months. The patients were dividedinto two groups according to the site of ALS onset and into twogroups according to the duration of the disease. FVC wassignificantly higher in the group of patients with a limb onsetthan in the group of patients with a bulbar onset of thedisease. The study has shown respiratory function disturbancesin ALS patients. FVC significantly depends on the site of ALSonset but not on the duration of the disease.