Respiratory complications are the major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with multiple sclerosis (MS). This study was designed to determine the relation between pulmonary and neurological dysfunction in MS patients and to identify the early predictors and prognostic value of respiratory dysfunction in these patients. Twenty three patients with primary and secondary progressive MS were included in this study. Pulmonary function parameters were evaluated by computerized sensor medics 2450; including Maximal voluntary ventilation (MVV), forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume (FEV).The respiratory impairment was common in MS patients. It occurred in 56.5% of all patients. It ranged from 88.9% in non ambulatory patients (EDSS>6.5) to25% in ambulatory patients (EDSS<6). Cerebellar deficit plays an important role in detecting respiratory dysfunction. Respiratory dysfunction was found in 11 (84.6%) out of 13 patients with severe cerebellar impairment and the presence of severe cerebellar signs was associated with a very high risk of occurrence of respiratory impairment ((OR =5.2; 95 %CI 1.4-19.3). Other significant variables were severity of the disability (EDSS >6.5) (OR =3.75; 95% CI 1.03-14.38) and long disease duration (>20years) (OR =2.81; 95 % CI 1.11-7.3). Significant negative correlations were found between severity of the disability, cerebellar impairment and basal pulmonary function.
(Egypt J. Neurol. Psychiat. Neurosurg., 2004, 41(2): 549-557).