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Respiratory dysfunction in Parkinson’s disease

Published version
Peer-reviewed

Type

Article

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Authors

Torsney, KM 
Forsyth, D 

Abstract

Respiratory dysfunction has been associated with Parkinson’s disease (PD) since it was first described in 1817. The respiratory symptoms observed in PD patients vary greatly. Most patients remain asymptomatic, whereas others present with acute shortness of breath and even stridor. In August 2016, an electronic literature search was conducted using PubMed and Google Scholar. Results were screened and studies reporting on respiratory dysfunction associated with PD were included. Respiratory dysfunction is due to a combination of factors including: restrictive changes; upper airway obstruction; abnormal ventilatory drive; and response to medications. Much debate surrounds the mechanism underlying respiratory dysfunction in PD, its prevalence and the effect of levodopa on respiration. It is clear from this review that larger studies, comparing patients of similar disease duration and severity using the same pulmonary function parameters, are required, to provide a better understanding of the pathophysiology underlying respiratory dysfunction in PD.

Description

Keywords

dyspnoea, Parkinson’s disease, pulmonary function tests, respiratory dysfunction

Journal Title

Journal of the Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh

Conference Name

Journal ISSN

1478-2715
2042-8189

Volume Title

47

Publisher

Royal College of Physicians of Edinburgh