Hypercapnia in relation to pulmonary function in duchenne muscular dystrophy

摘要

AbstractArterialized blood gases were analyzed in 143 patients with Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) to assess the relationship between forced vital capacity (FVC) and hypercapnia. The majority of patients studied had Paco2values in the low or normal range. Only six older patients had hypercapnia (Paco2≥ 45 mm Hg), and all these patients had FVC values ⩽ 40 predicted. We conclude that hypercapnic respiratory failure occurs as a late preterminal event in