Dyspnea-fasciculation syndrome: early respiratory failure in ALS with minimal motor signs.
BACKGROUND
Respiratory failure (RF) in ALS typically occurs as a late manifestation. While there are uncommon patient reports of early RF, most had moderate limb and bulbar weakness.


METHODS
We reviewed clinical and laboratory data from 3 patients with ALS, early RF, and minor motor signs.


RESULTS
Patients were male, ages 62, 75 and 80 years. The patients presented with 6 months to 2 years of exertional and nocturnal dyspnea, daytime hypersomnolence, limb fatigability, and weight loss. Exam showed tachypnea, slight distal limb weakness, and hyperreflexia. All three patients had prominent fasciculations, insomnia, supportive EMG findings, FVC (32-74% predicted), PO2 (50-80 mmHg), PCO2(52-76 mmHg) and required BiPAP (Bi-level positive airway pressure). One patient had a reduced FEV1/FVC of 0.55 and a 15% increase in FEV1 post-bronchodilator suggesting concurrent chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, his P(A-a)O2 was only 7 mmHg suggesting COPD was not the major factor causing respiratory failure; his extreme hypercapnea could not be explained by ALS or COPD alone.


CONCLUSIONS
ALS may present with unexplained RF, or sleep disturbance resembling sleep apnea, without significant bulbar or limb weakness. In our experience, such patients are elderly with dyspnea, fasciculations, and other minor motor signs: the Dyspnea-Fasciculation Syndrome. Concurrent COPD may augment the effect of ALS, resulting in earlier RF. FVC may be relatively preserved, despite hypercapnia.
Scelsa
Stephen N
SN
Department of Neurology, Beth Israel Medical Center, New York, NY 10003, USA. SScelsa@BethIsraelNY.Org
Yakubov
Boris
B
Salzman
Steve H
SH
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000690:Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000503:physiopathology*; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000503:physiopathology*; D005207:Fasciculation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000150:complications; D012129:Respiratory Function Tests; D012131:Respiratory Insufficiency / Q000209:etiology*; D013577:Syndrome