Involvement of Upper-Airway Muscles in Extrapyramidal Disorders

TLDR

The study aimed to identify the site and cause of airflow limitation in patients with parkinsonism by testing pulmonary function in 27 extrapyramidal disorder patients. Pulmonary function testing was performed on these 27 patients. Abnormal flow‑volume loop contours were found in 24 patients, with fiberoptic imaging showing rhythmic or irregular involuntary movements of glottic and supraglottic structures; ten patients had physiologic evidence of upper‑airway obstruction, symptomatic in four, indicating frequent upper‑airway musculature involvement that can severely limit airflow.

Abstract

To identify the site and cause of airflow limitation in patients with parkinsonism, we tested pulmonary function in 27 patients with extrapyramidal disorders. In 24 patients, an abnormal flow-volume loop contour, showing either regular (18 patients) or irregular (6 patients) flow oscillations, was found. On direct fiberoptic visualization of the upper airway, these oscillations corresponded to either rhythmic (4 to 8 Hz) or irregular involuntary movements of glottic and supraglottic structures. Ten patients had physiologic evidence of upper-airway obstruction, which was symptomatic in four. We conclude that the upper-airway musculature is frequently involved in extrapyramidal disorders. This causes upper-airway dysfunction that can be severe enough to limit airflow.