Clinical Trial: Postural Spirometry Changes in Ambulatory Myotonic Dystrophy Patients

Study Status: Completed
Recruit Status: Completed
Study Type: Interventional

Official Title: Lung Function Impairment and Postural Spirometry Changes in Ambulatory Myotonic Dystrophy Patients

Brief Summary:

Myotonic dystrophy Type 1 (MD1, Steinert's disease), an autosomal dominant multisystem disease, is of the most common muscular dystrophies in adults, with a European prevalence of 3-15/100 000. The disease course is progressive, associating muscular weakness, wasting and myotonia. Respiratory dysfunction is common, involving a restrictive ventilatory abnormality and alveolar hypoventilation, originating from respiratory muscle weakness. Depending on the degree of impairment of their lung function, the quality of life and the prognosis of MD1 patients may be very variable. However, time course and prevalence of such respiratory function impairment have not been clearly identified. More importantly, factors able to predict poor respiratory outcome have not been defined and therefore early prognosis can not be assessed during the follow-up of these patients. In other neuromuscular disorders, especially Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS), postural spirometry has been recommended to improve the detection of diaphragmatic involvement and some authors have suggested that the supine fall in the forced vital capacity could be used to initiate noninvasive positive pressure ventilation and predicts some respiratory symptoms.

In a sample of ambulatory patients with MD1, our study was designed to prospectively achieve two aims: 1) to assess the respective prevalence of a ventilatory restrictive pattern, respiratory muscle weakness, hypoxemia and hypercapnia and 2) to evaluate whether postural changes in lung volumes contribute to sensitize the diagnosis of respiratory weakness and could be used as a predictor of poor respiratory function, including hypoxemia, hypercapnia and restrictive ventilatory disease.


Detailed Summary:

Materials and Methods :

Subjects:

Adult ambulatory patients (18 years of age and older) with a clinical diagnosis of myotonic dystrophy type I were investigated prospectively as part of routine follow-up, from april 2008 to june 2010. Patients were clinically evaluated in the department of "Internal Medicine" and lung function was assessed in the department of "Pulmonary Function Testing", both from the University Hospital of Nancy. Pulmonary tests were ordered for clinical indications, not part of a study protocol. The supine evaluation was added of the conventional lung function testing. All individual were examined and categorized according to a standardized five-point muscular-impairment rating scale, in which a score of 1 indicates no muscular impairment, 2 minimal signs without distal weakness except for digit flexors, 3 distal weakness without proximal weakness except for elbow extensors, 4 moderate proximal weakness, and 5 severe weakness (MIRS).

Lung and respiratory muscle function:

All pulmonary function tests met or exceeds applicable standards of the European Respiratory Society / American Thoracic Society.

Spirometry was performed in the upright-seated position and in the supine position. Respiratory function data were compared with the predicted normal values obtained by the European Community for Steel and Coal and expressed as percentage of the normal value. The flow/volume curve and lung volumes were respectively assessed by an open-circuit spirometry and plethysmography.

Maximal Inspiratory Pressure (MIP) and Maximal Expiratory Pressure (MEP) were both measured in the seated position using
Sponsor: University of Nancy

Current Primary Outcome: Evidence of lung function impairment [ Time Frame: 1 year on average (annual regular follow-up) ]

Evidence of ventilatory restriction assessed by lung function testing or hypoxemia or hypercapnia assessed by arterial blood gases analysis


Original Primary Outcome: Same as current

Current Secondary Outcome: predictive factors of lung function impairment [ Time Frame: 1 year on average (annual regular follow-up) ]

Using results of upright and supine spirometry we intend to define variables that could predict poor respiratory outcome


Original Secondary Outcome: Same as current

Information By: University of Nancy

Dates:
Date Received: November 15, 2010
Date Started: April 2008
Date Completion:
Last Updated: November 15, 2010
Last Verified: November 2010