| Abstract: | OBJECTIVE: To compare lung function between patients with post-poliomyelitis syndromeand those with sequelae of paralytic poliomyelitis (without any signs orsymptoms of post-poliomyelitis syndrome), as well as between patients withpost-poliomyelitis syndrome and healthy controls. METHODS: Twenty-nine male participants were assigned to one of three groups: control;poliomyelitis (comprising patients who had had paralytic poliomyelitis buthad not developed post-poliomyelitis syndrome); and post-poliomyelitissyndrome. Volunteers underwent lung function measurements (spirometry andrespiratory muscle strength assessment). RESULTS: The results of the spirometric assessment revealed no significantdifferences among the groups except for an approximately 27% lower meanmaximal voluntary ventilation in the post-poliomyelitis syndrome group whencompared with the control group (p = 0.0127). Nevertheless, the maximalvoluntary ventilation values for the post-poliomyelitis group were comparedwith those for the Brazilian population and were found to be normal. Nosignificant differences were observed in respiratory muscle strength amongthe groups. CONCLUSIONS: With the exception of lower maximal voluntary ventilation, there was nosignificant lung function impairment in outpatients diagnosed withpost-poliomyelitis syndrome when compared with healthy subjects and withpatients with sequelae of poliomyelitis without post-poliomyelitis syndrome.This is an important clinical finding because it shows that patients withpost-poliomyelitis syndrome can have preserved lung function. |
