PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Angelica Tiotiu AU - André Noseda AU - Sophia Abdelkafi TI - Utility of ergospirometry in the diagnosis of hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) DP - 2011 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - p1543 VI - 38 IP - Suppl 55 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p1543.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p1543.full SO - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38 AB - The hyperventilation syndrome (HVS) is characterized by several somatic and psychological symptoms due to hypocapnia not secondary to any underlying organic disease. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the place of exercise-induced hyperventilation in the diagnosis of HVS.Twenty-three patients with normal spirometry, referred for suspicion of HVS on the basis of a Nijmegen's questionnaire (score ≥23) were eligible. Asthma was documented in 15 patients. The mean score of anxiety by the Spielberberg's State-Trait Anxiety Inventory for Adults was 53.5 which are suggestive of moderate anxiety. During the hyperventilation provocation test (HVPT), at least two symptoms of Nijmegen's questionnaire were reproduced in 14 patients. The mean level of PetCO 2 at baseline was 27.6 mm Hg and decreased to 15.2 mm Hg for a maximal ventilation of 57 l/min. No patient recovered the baseline level of PetCO2 at 5 min after the end of the HVPT (mean ratio PetCO2 after/before = 75%). Exercise-induced maximal ventilation (VEmax) was 52 l/min and was accompanied by a PetCO 2 level of 35.8 mm Hg and an EqCO2 of 32 mm Hg. No significant difference in the ventilatory pattern (VEmax, PetCO2, EqCO2) was found between HVS group (n=8) and the asthma and HVS group (n=15).In conclusion, in our group of patients with HVS, with or without asthma, the hyperventilation during exercise did not induce abnormal reduction in PetCO2 or abnormal increase in EqCO2. Our results suggest that, unexpectedly, the exercise could be a therapeutic tool in the HVS. It could be hypothesized that anxiety plays a role in the genesis of symptoms at rest but not during exercise where the patient has to be concentrated on his effort.