[The pulmonary function and respiratory muscle power in multiple systemic atrophy and Parkinson's disease].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the characteristics of pulmonary function and respiratory muscle performance in patients with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and Parkinson's disease (PD). METHODS: Pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength were evaluated in 16 MSA patients and 20 PD patients. Another 17 age and sex-matched healthy volunteers were recruited as controls. RESULTS: Carbon monoxide diffusion capacity (DLCO) was significantly decreased in MSA group compared with PD group [(62.86 ± 15.66)% vs (76.67 ± 18.98)%, respectively, P < 0.05]. Maximal inspiration pressure (MIP) and maximal expiration pressure (MEP) were (39.08 ± 22.99)% and (49.59 ± 22.97)% in MSA group, (39.83 ± 24.83)% and (49.26 ± 22.86)% in PD group. Both MIP and MEP in MSA and PD groups were significantly reduced compared with controls [(57.44 ± 19.90)%, P < 0.05; (77.10 ± 21.46)%, P < 0.001]. CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that respiratory dysfunction is involved in MSA and PD. The reduction of respiratory muscle strength is remarkable. The insufficiency of pulmonary diffusion function is more severe in MSA than in PD. More attention should be paid to the compromised respiratory function in neurodegenerative disorders.