ANALYSIS OF NEUROPHYSIOLOGICAL FINDINGS I N BRONCHIAL-ASTHMA PATIENTSWITH HYPERVENTILATION

Bronchial asthma (BA) patients with hyperventilation (HV) were examine d by means of evoked cutaneous sympathetic potential (ECSP) and short- latency evoked stem potentials to acoustic stimulation (SLESP to AS). Measurements of these parameters allowed quantitation and differentiat ion of hyperventilation disorders in BA patients. The latter were divi ded into 4 groups: BA patients with HV syndrome (HVS), BA patients wit h functional HV (FHV), BA patients with spontaneous HV (SHV) and BA pa tients without HV. BA patients with HVS exhibited a significant increa se of latent ECSP period and latent periods III and V SLESP to AS peak s. This evidences for vegetative neuropathy and dysfunction of the pol ls and mesencephalic brain compartments. In BA patients with FHV there was a longer latent period II of SLESP to AS peak indicating dysfunct ion of caudal brain stern. BA patients with SHV and without HV had no significant shifts.