Impaired lung function in multiple sclerosis: a single-center observational study in 371 persons

• DOI: 10.1007/s10072-023-06914-6
• Publication Date: 2023-07-06T07:02:20Z
• Authors: Iván Murrieta-Álv...; José A. Fernández...; Carlos A. Pérez; Andrés A. León-Peña; Óscar A. Reyes-Ci...; José M. Benítez-S...; Daniela Sánchez-B...; Juan C. Olivares-...; Danitza Fernández...; Rogelio Pérez-Pad...; Guillermo J. Ruiz...; Guillermo J. Ruiz...
• Keywords: Neuroradiology; Single Center; Center (category theory)

Abnormal lung function in people with multiple sclerosis (PwMS) could be considered as the result of muscle weakness or MS-specific structural central nervous system (CNS) abnormalities as a precipitant factor for the worsening of motor impairment or cognitive symptoms.This is a cross-sectional observational study in PwMS. Forced spirometry was conducted, and normative metrics of forced vital capacity (FVC), forced expiratory volume in the first second (FEV1), and the relation FEV1/FVC were calculated. Qualitative and quantitative brain magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examinations were carried out.A total of 371 PwMS were included in the study. Of those, 196 (53%) had RRMS, 92 (25%) SPMS, and 83 (22%) PPMS. Low FVC and FEV1 was present in 16 (8%), 16 (19%), and 23 (25%) of the patients in the RRMS, PPMS, and SPMS, respectively. PwMS with T2-FLAIR lesions involving the corpus callosum (CC) had a significantly higher frequency of abnormally low FVC and FEV1 (OR 3.62; 95% CI 1.33-9.83; p = 0.012) than patients without lesions in that region. This association remained significant in the RRMS group (OR 10.1; 95% CI 1.3-67.8; p 0.031) when the model excluded PPMS and SPMS. According to our study, for every increase of 1 z score of FVC, we observed an increase of 0.25 cm3 of hippocampal volume (β 0.25; 95% CI 0.03-0.47; p 0.023) and 0.43 cm3 of left hippocampus volume (β 0.43; 95% CI 0.16-0.71; p 0.002).We observed an incremental prevalence of abnormally low pulmonary function tests that parallels a sequence from more early relapsing courses to long-standing progressive courses (RRMS to PPMS or SPMS).