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SUPPLEMENT ARTICLES: Girish D. Sharma Pulmonary Function Testing in Neuromuscular Disorders Pediatrics 2009; 123: S219-S221 [Abstract] [Full text] [PDF]

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Pulmonary function testing and pediatric neuromuscular disease

Joyce Cheng, Leila Ettefagh, MD, and John R. Bach, MD   (17 July 2009)

Pulmonary function testing and pediatric neuromuscular disease 17 July 2009
Joyce Cheng, Medical student Drexel University College of Medicine, Leila Ettefagh, MD, and John R. Bach, MD Send letter to journal: Re: Pulmonary function testing and pediatric neuromuscular disease jcc92{at}drexel.edu Joyce Cheng, et al.	We read with interest “Pulmonary function testing in neuromuscular disease.”(1) While the author recommended monitoring spirometry, the value of determining the plateau vital capacity (VC) was not noted.(2) Plateau VC correlates with severity of Duchenne dystrophy (DMD) or any pediatric neuromuscular disease; it helps determine the risk of severe scoliosis, and following the plateau may be the best point to initiate air stacking to maximum lung insufflations.(3) It is also unclear why “FVC, FEV1, and maximum midexpiratory flow rates” need to be monitored at “each clinic visit” since these patients probably have even less obstructive pulmonary disease than the general pediatric population. Further, a physician specialist who specializes in neuromuscular disease can be more effective than having the patient be “evaluated by a pulmonologist” who doesn’t! References: 1. Sharma GD. Pulmonary function testing in neuromuscular disease. Pediatrics 2009;123:S219-S221. 2. Rideau Y, Glorion B, Delaubier A, Tarle O, Bach J. Treatment of scoliosis in Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Muscle Nerve 1984;7:281-286. 3. Kang SW, Bach JR. Maximum insufflation capacity. Chest 2000;118:61 -65. Conflict of Interest: None declared