RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Chest wall kinematics in patients with osteogenesis imperfecta (OI) JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 4877 VO 38 IS Suppl 55 A1 Antonella LoMauro A1 Simona Pochintesta A1 Grazia D'Angelo A1 Marianna Romei A1 Andrea Aliverti YR 2011 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/4877.abstract AB In Osteogenesis imperfecta (OI), an inherited connective tissue disorder characterized by brittle bones and significant chest wall (CW) deformities, pulmonary complications are the principal causes of death.In order to study how OI alters chest wall function, we studied 7 patients with severe form type III (OI3), 15 with moderate form type IV (OI4) and 26 healthy subjects (CTR). Breathing pattern, regional CW volume changes and thoracoabdominal asynchronies at rest in seated and supine position were measured by opto-electronic plethysmography. Rib cage deformities was assessed from OEP markers by computing the angle of the sternum (α) on the transversal plane.In both positions, minute ventilation was lower in OI than CTR because of lower tidal volume (p<0.01). Abdominal tidal volume in OI3 was higher and associated to low pulmonary rib cage contribution which was even negative (inspiratory paradoxical inward motion) in supine (figure).OI3 showed reduced α angle (161.6±17.5°; 178.3±10.5°; 181.7±12.9° in OI3, OI4 and CTR, p<0.01) and higher thoracoabdominal asynchony (labored breathing index=1.32±0.4, 1.03±0.03, 1.02±0.02 in OI3, OI4 and CTR, p<0.001).In conclusion, OI3 is characterized by rib cage deformities (pectus carinatum) which alters CW function during breathing.The reduced or paradoxical rib cage motion during inspiration is compensated by an increased action of the diaphragm at rest, associated with large thoracoabdominal asynchrony.