Assessing diaphragm function by ultrasound in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) patients

Abstract

To identify the onset of diaphragm dysfunction in Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS) patients, respiratory functional tests (RFT) are the most valid parameters to detect hypoventilation in ALS, although require collaboration. Otherwise, diaphragm ultrasound (DUS) is a non-volitional technique, bed-side and radiation-free able to assess diaphragm function. This study correlates DUS with the respiratory function tests to evaluate ventilatory dysfunctions in ALS patients. This study enrolled 29 spinal ALS and 13 healthy patients. All patients performed respiratory functional tests and DUS to assess diaphragmatic excursion, delta-thickness (ΔT), and thickening fraction (TF). Diaphragmatic excursion correlates significantly with both VC % in upper (r=0,54; p=0,007) and supine (r=0,58; p=0,003;) position; and FVC % in upper (r=0,65; p=0,0007) and supine (r=0,63; p=0,001;) position. The excursion also correlates with MIP (r=0,42; p=0,04) and SNIP (r=0,43; p=0,05). Both delta-thickness (ΔT) and thickening fraction (TF) correlate respectively with VC % in upper (r=0,58; p=0,001 and r=0,55; p=0,003) and supine (r=0,59; p=0,001 and r=0,55; p=0,003) position; and FVC % in upper (r=0,61; p=0,0008 and r=0,53; p=0,005) and supine position (r=0,62; p=0,0006 and r=0,51; p=0,007). In conclusion, diaphragmatic excursion, delta-thickness (ΔT) and thickening fraction (TF) significantly correlate with lung function impairments in ALS patients. Footnotes Cite this article as: ERJ Open Research 2022; 8: Suppl. 9, 35. This article was presented at the 2022 ERS Respiratory Failure and Mechanical Ventilation Conference, in session “Poster Session 2”. This is an ERS Respiratory Failure and Mechanical Ventilation Conference abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at [www.ers-education.org][1] (ERS member access only). [1]: http://www.ers-education.org