RESPIRATORY-FUNCTION DETERIORATION IS NOT TIME-LINKED WITH UPPER-LIMBONSET IN AMYOTROPHIC-LATERAL-SCLEROSIS

Introduction - In amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), symptoms appare ntly spread following regional rules, and depending on the site of ons et. We examined if respiratory function deterioration appears earlier or is more severe in patients with upper-limb onset. Material & method s - We compared the results of various pulmonary function tests (PFT) obtained at diagnosis depending on the site of onset in 49 ALS patient s. In a longitudinal study, we compared the deterioration of forced vi tal capacity (FVC) in relation to the site of onset, and analyzed the time elapsed to reach values below 80% of predicted according to site of onset, and we compared the survival depending on the site of onset. Results - No significant differences in PFT were found in the upper-l imb onset group in any of the analysis performed. No differences in su rvival were detected in any disease onset group. Conclusion - Pulmonar y function deterioration does not appear to be time-linked to arm onse t in ALS.