TY - JOUR T1 - Diaphragm ultrasound and respiratory functional test: a combined approach in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis JF - ERJ Open Research JO - erjor DO - 10.1183/23120541.RFMVC-2020.15 VL - 6 IS - suppl 4 SP - 15 AU - Letizia D'Antoni AU - Antonella Sotgiu AU - Fausta Viccaro AU - Krisstopher Richard Flores AU - Ernesto Di Biase AU - Paolo Palange Y1 - 2020/02/13 UR - http://openres.ersjournals.com/content/6/suppl_4/15.abstract N2 - Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a neurodegenerative disease of upper and lower motor neurons that affect respiratory muscles, the main is the diaphragm. The diaphragm ultrasound (DUS) allows a functional evaluation and needs less collaboration and coordination than respiratory functional tests (RFT).The aim of the study is to correlate DUS and RFT, to assess US as a specific method of diaphragm evaluation in ALS.The study enrolled 24 spinal ALS patients compared to 13 healthy controls.All patients underwent to RFT in upper and in supine position; Maximal Inspiratory and Expiratory Pressure, Maximal Sniff Nasal Inspiratory Pressure, Peak Cough Flow and DUS evaluation.It is identified ΔVC and ΔFVC measuring the difference of Vital Capacity (VC) and Forced Vital Capacity (FVC) in upper and supine position.DUS is performed to asses diaphragmatic excursion, diaphragmatic thickness at lung total capacity (LTC), at functional residual capacity (FRC) and thickening fraction (TF).Significant correlation was found between diaphragmatic excursion and FVC in upper (r=0.66; p=0.0004) and supine position (r=0.66; p<0.01). There is a correlation between diaphragmatic thickness at LTC versus ΔFVC (r=-0.62; p=0.01) and ΔVC (r=-0.62; p=0.01).Thickening fraction is not statistically significative in ALS patients compared to controls.Lung function impairment in ALS patients correlates to US diaphragmatic evaluation. ΔFVC, ΔVC and their correlation to the diaphragmatic motion showed a new and interesting data.DUS is a valid method when standard measurement are difficult to performe. This study represents a new step towards validation of DUS as a non volitional test in ALS patients.FootnotesCite this article as: ERJ Open Research 2020; 6: Suppl. 4, 15.This is an ERS Respiratory Failure and Mechanical Ventilation Conference abstract. No full-text version is available. Further material to accompany this abstract may be available at www.ers-education.org (ERS member access only). ER -