ABSTRACT
Objective@#The purpose of this study was to verify the hypothesis, by performing objective measurements, that tongue pressure will have an association with swallowing function in patients with Parkinson’s disease. It was also of interest whether measures of lingual function were consistent with reports of swallowing related quality of life. @*Methods@#The subjects were 18 patients with Parkinson’s disease. Their tongue pressure was examined by using an Iowa oral performance instrument (IOPI). They all underwent video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS) and they completed a Korean swallowing-quality of life questionnaire (K-SWAL-QOL). Tongue pressures were measured in the anterior (MTPa: maximal tongue pressure anterior) and posterior (MTPp: maximal tongue pressure posterior). The cutoff value of MTP was 34 kPa. @*Results@#The average of tongue pressure was decreased in both anterior (MTPa=27.79±13.44 kPa) and posterior (MTPp=19.20±8.88 kPa), and MTPp of all the subjects was less than 34 kPa. For the MTPa, 11 patients were under 34 kPa (abnormal group) and 7 patients were above 34 kPa (normal group). The oral transit time (OTT) of the abnormal MTPa group was significantly delayed more than that of the normal group (P=0.006). On the correlation analysis, the MTPa and OTT, MTPa and penetration aspiration scale (PAS), MTPp and PAS showed significant negative correlations with each other. The MTP and the social, sleep and fatigue subscores of K-SWAL-QOL showed significant positive correlations. @*Conclusion@#In patients with Parkinson’s disease, lower tongue pressure was related to delayed oral transit time and a higher aspiration tendency. We expect the clinical usage of the easily measured tongue pressure to predict the swallowing function and help plan the correct treatment.
ABSTRACT
Objective@#Dysphagia has been reported to occur in patients with inflammatory myopathy (IM). Although high-resolution impedance manometry (HRIM) provides precise information regarding the pharyngeal pressure, it has not yet been used for assessing dysphagia in routine clinical practice. This study determined whether the results of HRIM for evaluating deglutition disorders in patients with IM could reflect an abnormality that can’t be identified by a video fluoroscopic swallowing study (VFSS). @*Methods@#We reviewed both VFSS and HRIM results of nine patients with IM, four of whom presented with globus sensation. @*Results@#Cricopharyngeal muscle dysfunction was noted in all four patients with globus sensation, and the upper esophageal sphincter residual pressure (UESRP) was higher (≥8 mmHg) in the patients with pharyngeal residue.Using VFSS and HRIM, we demonstrated that dysphagia in patients with IM may arise owing to failed relaxation of UES or decreased hyolaryngeal excursion. @*Conclusion@#In conclusion, UES-RP values of ≥8 mmHg indicate the presence of pharyngeal residue and globus sensation in patients with IM. HRIM provided a comprehensive assessment of the mechanisms of dysphagia, and HRIM facilitated recognizing subtle abnormalities in pharyngeal contraction and UES function. HRIM can overcome the limitations of VFSS by allowing clinicians to perform objective measurements in patients with IM.