Screening in Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy

Determination of Accurate Screening Tools for Dysphagia in Oculopharyngeal Muscular Dystrophy

Oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy (OPMD) is a rare myopathic disease that results in progressive degeneration of the oral and pharyngeal muscular, resulting in severe dysphagia and dysarthria. OPMD is considered a rare disease; therefore, limited research is available on the natural progression of the disease or the utility of biomarkers to identify swallowing impairment. The aim of this study is:

1. To identify accurate, reliable and non-invasive clinical markers of swallowing impairment
2. To determine the discriminate ability of these markers to identify impairments in swallow safety and swallowing efficiency.

Participants will be recruited from the Neurology clinic at the University of Florida. The single evaluation will occur in the PIs research laboratory at the University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosis of oculopharyngeal muscular dystrophy
• no allergies to barium or capsaicin,
• no tracheotomy or mechanical ventilation
• no significant concurrent respiratory disease (e.g., COPD).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Pregnant Women