The effect of respiratory muscle training on respiratory muscle strength, diaphragm thickness/mobility, and exercise capacity in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus and associated shrinking lung syndrome

Author: Fulden Sari1, Deran Oskay2, Abdurrahman Tufan3
Affiliation:
1 Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation, Bingol University, Bingol, Turkey.
2 Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkey.
3 Inflamatuar Disease Section, National Human Genome Research Institute, Rockville Pike, MD, USA.
Conference/Journal: Lupus
Date published: 2024 Mar 1
Other: Volume ID: 33 , Issue ID: 3 , Pages: 289-292 , Special Notes: doi: 10.1177/09612033241226755. , Word Count: 177


Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic autoimmune disorder that can impact any organ in the body. The pathophysiology of shrinking lung syndrome (SLS), a rare pulmonary complication of SLE, remains unknown. The objective of the current case series was to investigate the effects of inspiratory muscle training (IMT) on diaphragm thickness/mobility, respiratory muscle strength, peripheral muscle thickness/strength, and functional exercise capacity in patients with SLE and associated SLS. Three patients with SLE were included in the case series. Respiratory muscle strength, peripheral muscle strength, peripheral muscle thickness, diaphragm muscle thickness, diaphragm muscle mobility, functional exercise capacity, and pulmonary function test were assessed. A significant improvement has been determined in respiratory muscle strength, functional exercise capacity, peripheral muscle strength, peripheral muscle thickness, diaphragm muscle thickness, and diaphragm muscle mobility. This is the first case series showing the beneficial effects of IMT on respiratory muscle strength, diaphragm thickness/mobility, peripheral muscle thickness/strength, and exercise capacity in patients with SLE.

Keywords: Systemic lupus erythematosus; diaphragmatic dysfunction; diaphragmatic thickness; exercise or rehabilitation; shrinking lung syndrome.

PMID: 38194712 DOI: 10.1177/09612033241226755

BACK