Is it useful to perform carbon monoxide diffusion capacity and respiratory muscle function tests in patients with multiple sclerosis without disability?

Background And Objective: Impairment of respiratory function has been described in end-stage multiple sclerosis (MS), as well as in patients with mild to severe disability. No data are available regarding the respiratory function of MS patients without disability. The objective of this study was to assess the pulmonary function, respiratory muscle strength and carbon monoxide diffusion capacity of the lungs (DL(CO)) in patients with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (RRMS) without disability.

The total face mask is more comfortable than the oronasal mask in noninvasive ventilation but is not associated with improved outcome.

Background: Noninvasive positive-pressure ventilation (NPPV) is commonly used to improve ventilation and oxygenation and avoid endotracheal intubation and mechanical ventilation. Although clinically indicated, most patients fail to use NPPV due to mask intolerance. A total face mask was designed to increase compliance, but whether this translates into better outcome (improvement in clinical and blood gas parameters and less intubation) is unknown.

Which functional parameters can help differentiate severe asthma from COPD?

The aim of this study was to identify the respiratory function parameters that help in the accurate diagnosis of asthma and COPD. We studied 20 asthma and 30 COPD patients who underwent lung function tests including spirometry and plethysmography both with bronchodilator test and diffusion with carbon monoxide (DLCO). The tests were performed according to International Guidelines (ATS/ERS).

Comparison between total lung capacity and residual volume values obtained by pletysmography and single breath methods with methane.

We analyzed pulmonary function tests of twenty asthmatic patients from Gaffrée e Guinle University Hospital, classified according to Brazilian Guidelines for Asthma (2002), similar to GINA, into mild persistent or moderate (9) or severe (11) asthma. We obtained parameters from spirometry, plethysmograph (PL) and single breath technique for diffusion capacity (SB), with methane. Total lung capacity and residual volume were called TLC(PL) and RV(PL) when measured by pletysmography and TLC(SB) and RV(SB) when determined by single breath test.