CENTRAL CONTROL OF VENTILATION IN NEUROMUSCULAR DISEASE

Control of ventilation depends on both peripheral and central chemorec eptors. Neuromuscular diseases cause many changes that may affect vent ilation and ventilatory control, often leading to an abnormal pattern of ventilation, hypoventilation during sleep, and reduced ventilatory response to CO2. A combination of factors can lead to abnormal pattern s of breathing and hypoventilation in these disorders, and no single p athophysiologic mechanism can explain all the abnormalities.