PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Hans-Joachim Kabitz AU - Hinrich-Cordt Bremer AU - Anja Schwoerer AU - Florian Sonntag AU - Stephan Walterspacher AU - David Walker AU - Nicola Ehlken AU - Gerd Staehler AU - Wolfram Windisch AU - Ekkehard Grünig TI - Respiratory muscle function in pulmonary hypertension improves following exercise and respiratory training DP - 2013 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - P4056 VI - 42 IP - Suppl 57 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P4056.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/42/Suppl_57/P4056.full SO - Eur Respir J2013 Sep 01; 42 AB - BackgroundIt has been shown that respiratory muscle function is impaired in pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). This might contribute to increased dyspnea and reduced exercise capacity in PAH patients. It remains unclear whether training regimes are capable of improving respiratory muscle function.Aims and objectivesThis prospective study investigates effects of exercise and respiratory training on i) respiratory muscle strength and ii) 6-minute walking distance (6MWD) in PAH patients.MethodsPAH patients participated in 3 weeks in-hospital and another 12 weeks home-based exercise and respiratory training. During the entire training period medication remained unchanged. Efficacy parameters were assessed at I: baseline, II/III: after 3/15 weeks. Twitch mouth pressure (TwPmo) during non-volitional supramaximal magnetic phrenic nerve stimulation measured respiratory muscle function.ResultsSeven PAH patients (4/3 female/male; mean pulmonary artery pressure 45±11mmHg, median WHO functional class 3.1±0.4, idiopathic/associated pulmonary arterial hypertension n=5/2) participated. TwPmo was I: 0.86±0.37kPa, II: 1.04±0.29kPa, III: 1.27±0.44kPa, respectively. 6MWD was I: 417±51m, II: 509±39m, III: 498±39m, respectively. TwPmo (+0.41±0.34kPa, +56±39%) as well as 6MWD (+81±30m, +20±9%) increased significantly from baseline to III (pairwise comparison: p=0.012/<0.001; RM-ANOVA considering I, II, III: p=0.037/<0.001).ConclusionsTo conclude, respiratory muscle strength and exercise capacity in PAH patients improve by exercise and respiratory training as add-on to medical therapy. These results should be confirmed by further randomized controlled trials.