ABSTRACT
The incidence and type of neuropathy in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) were assessed. In a selected group of 89 patients, abnormal nerve conduction studies were found in 44%. Electrophysiological signs of a generalized peripheral neuropathy were found in 5-18%, depending on diagnostic criteria. Lesions which were thought to be due to compression or other forms of trauma were present in a further 24%. In the patients with peripheral neuropathy, the changes were distally predominant, affected mainly sensory fibres, and were consistent with an axonal type of neuropathy. There was a significant correlation between age and the incidence of peripheral neuropathy. Electrophysiological evidence of neuropathy was three times as common as clinical evidence. Much of the variation in the reported incidence of neuropathy in COPD is probably due to imprecise diagnostic criteria.
Subject(s)
Lung Diseases, Obstructive/complications , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/etiology , Adult , Aged , Electromyography , Humans , Lung Diseases, Obstructive/physiopathology , Middle Aged , Neural Conduction/physiology , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/diagnosis , Peripheral Nervous System Diseases/physiopathologyABSTRACT
Sleep and respiration during sleep were studied in patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease, patients with Parkinsonism with autonomic disturbance, and normal age and sex matched controls. Patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease showed significantly reduced REM sleep, and more frequent and prolonged waking throughout the night. Hypoventilation and sleep apnoea did not occur in the idiopathic Parkinson's disease or normal groups, but respiration was disorganised with frequent central and obstructive apnoeas in the autonomic disturbance group. Respiratory rate during non rapid eye movement sleep was similar in the idiopathic Parkinson's disease and normal groups, but patients with idiopathic Parkinson's disease showed tachypnoea awake and during REM sleep.
Subject(s)
Parkinson Disease/diagnosis , Respiration Disorders/diagnosis , Sleep Wake Disorders/diagnosis , Adult , Aged , Airway Obstruction/diagnosis , Autonomic Nervous System Diseases/diagnosis , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Oxygen/blood , Shy-Drager Syndrome/diagnosis , Sleep Apnea Syndromes/diagnosis , Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders/diagnosis , Sleep, REM/physiologyABSTRACT
A device, the cerebral function monitor, provides a continuous record of the electrical activity of the brain occurring at frequencies from 2 to 15 Hz. It is relatively cheap, portable, and easy to use and interpret. The apparatus has proved of value in three circumstances: firstly, when the cerebral circulation is likely to be vulnerable during open heart surgery; secondly, as a measure of recovery or deterioration following brain damage or drug overdose; and thirdly, where information about more physiological changes in cerebral function is required, for instance when testing anaesthetic and hypnotic drugs.
