Involvement of Upper-Airway Muscles in Extrapyramidal Disorders
- 16 August 1984
- journal article
- research article
- Published by Massachusetts Medical Society in New England Journal of Medicine
- Vol. 311 (7), 438-442
- https://doi.org/10.1056/nejm198408163110704
Abstract
To identify the site and cause of airflow limitation in patients with parkinsonism, we tested pulmonary function in 27 patients with extrapyramidal disorders. In 24 patients, an abnormal flow–volume loop contour, showing either regular (18 patients) or irregular (6 patients) flow oscillations, was found. On direct fiberoptic visualization of the upper airway, these oscillations corresponded to either rhythmic (4 to 8 Hz) or irregular involuntary movements of glottic and supraglottic structures. Ten patients had physiologic evidence of upper-airway obstruction, which was symptomatic in four. We conclude that the upper-airway musculature is frequently involved in extrapyramidal disorders. This causes upper-airway dysfunction that can be severe enough to limit airflow. (N Engl J Med 1984; 311:438–42.)This publication has 14 references indexed in Scilit:
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