Abstract
Introduction
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is currently regarded as a general disease with pulmonary starting point. Extra-thoracic manifestations are associated with the disease such as cachexia, skeletal muscle dysfonctionnment, cardiovascular diseases, osteoporosis and anemia. Very few studies have focused on evaluating the frequency of peripheral neuropathy in patients with COPD.
Methods
Eighty subjects were included in the study. The COPD group comprised 40 male smokers with stable disease and 40 age-matched healthy, non smokers, male volunteers served as the control group. All subjects underwent pulmonary function testing and electroneuromyography. Individual patients in the COPD group having abnormal amplitude and/or conduction velocity in any one or more nerves beyond the range of mean ± 2 standard deviations were selected as having the significant peripheral neuropathy.
Results: Seven out of 40 COPD patients had peripheral nerve impairment on electrophysiological evaluation. In these patients, only one patient reported sensory symptoms of tingling kind to members. Peripheral neuropathy was often sensitive and predominated in the lower members. Its occurrence is correlated with the degree of smoking intoxication, the length of COPD and the depth of hypoxemia.
Conclusion
Peripheral neuropathy is frequent in COPD patients and it is often subclinical.
- © 2014 ERS
