RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Exercise training in pulmonary arterial hypertension associated with connective tissue diseases
JF European Respiratory Journal
JO Eur Respir J
FD European Respiratory Society
SP P4433
VO 40
IS Suppl 56
A1 Ekkehard Gruenig
A1 Felicitas Maier
A1 Nicola Ehlken
A1 Christine Fischer
A1 Mona Lichtblau
A1 Norbert Blank
A1 Christoph Fiehn
A1 Frank Stöckl
A1 Felix Prange
A1 Gerd Staehler
A1 Frank Reichenberger
A1 Henning Thide
A1 Michael Halank
A1 Hans-Jürgen Seyfrath
A1 Simone Wagner
A1 Christian Nagel
YR 2012
UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P4433.abstract
AB Background: The objective of this prospective study was to assess short-and long-term efficacy of exercise training(ET) as add-on to medical therapy in patients with connective tissue diseases-associated pulmonary arterial hypertension(CTD-APAH).Patients with invasively confirmed CTD-APAH received ET in-hospital for 3 weeks and continued at home for 15 weeks. Efficacy parameters have been evaluated at baseline and after 15 weeks by blinded-observers. Survival rate has been evaluated in a follow-up period of 2.9±1.9 years.Results: Twenty-one consecutive patients were included and assessed at baseline, and after 3 weeks, 12 after 15 weeks. Patients significantly improved the mean distance walked in 6 minutes compared to baseline by 67±52 meters after 3 weeks(p<0.001) and by 71±35 meters after 15 weeks(p=0.003), scores of quality of life(p<0.05), heart rate at rest and maximal workload. Systolic pulmonary artery pressure and diastolic systemic blood pressure improved significantly after 3 weeks of ET. The 1- and 2-year overall-survival rates were 100%, the 3-year survival 73%. In one patient lung transplantation was performed 6 months after ET.Conclusion: ET as add-on to medical therapy is effective in patients with CTD-APAH to improve work capacity, quality of life and prognostic parameters and improves the 1-, 2- and 3-year survival rate. Further randomized controlled studies are needed to confirm these results.