Evaluation of Diaphragmatic Ultrasound in Respiratory Functional Assessment in Patients with ALS

<b>Background:</b> Diaphragmatic ultrasound emerges as a valuable non-invasive method for assessing diaphragm functionality in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study aimed to evaluate diaphragmatic ultrasound parameters in ALS, compare them with respiratory functio...

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Main Authors: Miguel Iglesias, Juan Alejandro Cascón, Andrés Maimó, Antonio Albaladejo, Felipe Andreo, Ana Sánchez Fernández, María Maciá Palazón, Isabel Martínez González-Posada, Ruth García García, Rosa Cordovilla
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Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-04-01
Series:Diagnostics
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/7/884
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author Miguel Iglesias
Juan Alejandro Cascón
Andrés Maimó
Antonio Albaladejo
Felipe Andreo
Ana Sánchez Fernández
María Maciá Palazón
Isabel Martínez González-Posada
Ruth García García
Rosa Cordovilla
author_facet Miguel Iglesias
Juan Alejandro Cascón
Andrés Maimó
Antonio Albaladejo
Felipe Andreo
Ana Sánchez Fernández
María Maciá Palazón
Isabel Martínez González-Posada
Ruth García García
Rosa Cordovilla
author_sort Miguel Iglesias
collection DOAJ
description <b>Background:</b> Diaphragmatic ultrasound emerges as a valuable non-invasive method for assessing diaphragm functionality in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study aimed to evaluate diaphragmatic ultrasound parameters in ALS, compare them with respiratory function tests, and determine whether they are associated with the need for non-invasive ventilation (NIV). <b>Methods:</b> This was a prospective, descriptive, and multicenter study across five centers, enrolling patients with recent diagnoses of ALS. At three-monthly visits, participants underwent both diaphragmatic ultrasound and pulmonary function testing. The following variables were analyzed: withdrawal from this study due to NIV or death, excursion, velocity, thickness, thickening fraction, and spirometric and respiratory muscle function values. <b>Results:</b> A total of 41 patients were included. A total of 24 (61.5%) patients left this study before the final year: 17 due to initiation of NIV, 4 due to clinical deterioration without NIV, and 3 due to death. Statistically significant moderate correlations were observed between diaphragmatic excursion and velocity and FVC and supine FVC (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and with MIP and the SNIP test (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No correlation was observed with thickening fraction. Additionally, lower baseline values in excursion were significantly associated with study withdrawal, along with reduced lung function (FVC, supine FVC, and MEP (<i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions:</b> assessing diaphragmatic excursion by ultrasonography may serve as a useful tool for monitoring patients with ALS.
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spelling doaj-art-f77a43e3bbee42cc81f3a240c1739f462025-08-20T02:09:11ZengMDPI AGDiagnostics2075-44182025-04-0115788410.3390/diagnostics15070884Evaluation of Diaphragmatic Ultrasound in Respiratory Functional Assessment in Patients with ALSMiguel Iglesias0Juan Alejandro Cascón1Andrés Maimó2Antonio Albaladejo3Felipe Andreo4Ana Sánchez Fernández5María Maciá Palazón6Isabel Martínez González-Posada7Ruth García García8Rosa Cordovilla9Servicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, SpainServicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, SpainServicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario Son Llàtzer, 07198 Palma de Mallorca, SpainServicio de Neumología, Hospital de Manacor, 07500 Manacor, SpainServicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario Germans Trias i Pujol, 08916 Badalona, SpainServicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, SpainServicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario Son Llàtzer, 07198 Palma de Mallorca, SpainServicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, 33011 Oviedo, SpainServicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, SpainServicio de Neumología, Hospital Universitario de Salamanca, 37007 Salamanca, Spain<b>Background:</b> Diaphragmatic ultrasound emerges as a valuable non-invasive method for assessing diaphragm functionality in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). This study aimed to evaluate diaphragmatic ultrasound parameters in ALS, compare them with respiratory function tests, and determine whether they are associated with the need for non-invasive ventilation (NIV). <b>Methods:</b> This was a prospective, descriptive, and multicenter study across five centers, enrolling patients with recent diagnoses of ALS. At three-monthly visits, participants underwent both diaphragmatic ultrasound and pulmonary function testing. The following variables were analyzed: withdrawal from this study due to NIV or death, excursion, velocity, thickness, thickening fraction, and spirometric and respiratory muscle function values. <b>Results:</b> A total of 41 patients were included. A total of 24 (61.5%) patients left this study before the final year: 17 due to initiation of NIV, 4 due to clinical deterioration without NIV, and 3 due to death. Statistically significant moderate correlations were observed between diaphragmatic excursion and velocity and FVC and supine FVC (<i>p</i> < 0.001) and with MIP and the SNIP test (<i>p</i> < 0.05). No correlation was observed with thickening fraction. Additionally, lower baseline values in excursion were significantly associated with study withdrawal, along with reduced lung function (FVC, supine FVC, and MEP (<i>p</i> < 0.001). <b>Conclusions:</b> assessing diaphragmatic excursion by ultrasonography may serve as a useful tool for monitoring patients with ALS.https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/7/884Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosisthoracic ultrasoundrespiratory function test
spellingShingle Miguel Iglesias
Juan Alejandro Cascón
Andrés Maimó
Antonio Albaladejo
Felipe Andreo
Ana Sánchez Fernández
María Maciá Palazón
Isabel Martínez González-Posada
Ruth García García
Rosa Cordovilla
Evaluation of Diaphragmatic Ultrasound in Respiratory Functional Assessment in Patients with ALS
Diagnostics
Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
thoracic ultrasound
respiratory function test
title Evaluation of Diaphragmatic Ultrasound in Respiratory Functional Assessment in Patients with ALS
title_full Evaluation of Diaphragmatic Ultrasound in Respiratory Functional Assessment in Patients with ALS
title_fullStr Evaluation of Diaphragmatic Ultrasound in Respiratory Functional Assessment in Patients with ALS
title_full_unstemmed Evaluation of Diaphragmatic Ultrasound in Respiratory Functional Assessment in Patients with ALS
title_short Evaluation of Diaphragmatic Ultrasound in Respiratory Functional Assessment in Patients with ALS
title_sort evaluation of diaphragmatic ultrasound in respiratory functional assessment in patients with als
topic Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis
thoracic ultrasound
respiratory function test
url https://www.mdpi.com/2075-4418/15/7/884
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