title: Evolution of peripheral nerve function in hypoxaemic COPD patients taking almitrine bismesylate: a prospective long-term study.
abstract: Almitrine bismesylate has been thought to provoke peripheral neuropathies in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, there seems to exist alterations of peripheral nerve function in patients with COPD, who have not taken almitrine. We have therefore examined 22 patients with COPD and no other cause of peripheral neuropathy (PN), before and after 6 and 12 months of treatment with almitrine (50 mg bd). Seventy-eight similar patients, who did not take almitrine, were also studied (controls). Sixty-four per cent of controls, and 55% of almitrine patients initially had at least one neurophysiological abnormality. There was no change in the studied parameters after 6 months and one year's treatment with almitrine.
authors.affiliation: CHRU de Rouen, France.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Lerebours
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Senant
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Moore
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Arnaud
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: David
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Ozenne
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Nouvet
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D015765:Almitrine; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D008875:Middle Aged; D010525:Peripheral Nerves / Q000187:drug effects; D010523:Peripheral Nervous System Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000150:complications*; D010879:Piperazines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D009435:Synaptic Transmission / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D010879:Piperazines; D015765:Almitrine