A cross-sectional study on nerve conduction velocity in stable chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objectives: This study was undertaken with the aim to find out possible presence of subclinical peripheral neuropathy in patients of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and its association with advancing severity of disease. Changes in nerve conduction parameter values in these patients have been presented. Materials and Methods: Median, ulnar, peroneal motor, and sural sensory nerve conduction latency, amplitude, and velocity were recorded in 100 known cases of COPD in the age group of 25–65 years as per the standard protocol. Results: On analysis, statistically significant lowering of sural nerve conduction velocity (P = 0.002) and amplitude (P = 0.003) was found with decreasing FEV1% in the three stages of COPD. Decrease in ulnar sensory conduction amplitude and velocity was also noted but it was not significant. Fall in sural nerve conduction velocity was found to be strongly and positively correlated (P = 0.029, r = 0.444) with decrease in FEV1%. Conclusion: These findings suggest that with increasing severity of disease, airflow limitation enhances polyneuropathy in COPD patients. It is predominantly axonal and mainly involving sensory nerve.