Entrenamiento muscular de las extremidades inferiores en el paciente con enfermedad pulmonar obstructiva crónica / Lower extremity exercise training in the rehabilitation of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Several studies have shown that poor exercise tolerance in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) patients is multifactorial in origin. However, a major exercise-limiting factor in COPD is peripheral muscle dysfunction, particularly the muscles of the lower extremities, characterized by atrophic muscles and reduced fatigue resistance due to morphological and metabolic alterations of peripheral muscles. This chapter therefore evaluated the scientific evidence regarding the beneficial effect of lower extremities exercise in the pulmonary rehabilitation in COPD patients. The technical characteristics of this exercise training were also reviewed. Exercise training of lower limbs was recommended in respiratory rehabilitation of COPD patients. The lower extremities muscle exercise training provides significant benefits to patients with COPD in terms of reduction of dyspnea and improvemet in exercise capacity and in quality of life (quality level of evidence = A, strong recommendation). Higher-intensity exercise training and with interval exercise of the lower extrmities produces greater physiological benefits.

Diversos estudios han demostrado que la pobre tolerancia al ejercicio de los pacientes con Enfermedad Pulmonar Obstructiva Crónica (EPOC) es de origen multifactorial. Sin embargo, un importante factor limitante del ejercicio en los pacientes con EPOC es la disfunción muscular periférica, sobre todo de los músculos de las extremidades inferiores, que se caracteriza por atrofia muscular y reducida resistencia a la fatiga dado por alteraciones morfológicas y metabólicas de los músculos periféricos. En este capitulo se evaluó la evidencia científica que existe en cuanto a los beneficios del entrenamiento muscular de extremidades inferiores (EEII) en la rehabilitación respiratoria en pacientes con EPOC. También se revisan las características técnicas de dicho entrenamiento. Se recomienda la realización de entrenamiento muscular de EEII en rehabilitación respiratoria de pacientes con EPOC. El entrenamiento muscular de extremidades inferiores otorga significativos beneficios a los pacientes con EPOC en cuanto a disminuir la disnea, mejorar la capacidad de ejercicio y la calidad de vida (calidad de la evidencia A, recomendación fuerte). El entrenamiento de EEII de alta intensidad y con intervalos produce significativos beneficios fisiológicos.

Vasorreactividad a adenosina en los pacientes con hipertensión pulmonar arterial: prevalencia y respuesta clínica, funcional y hemodinámica al tratamiento con diltiazem / Acute vasodilatador test using adenosine in patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension: prevalence and clinical, functional and hemodynamic response after diltiazem treatment

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe and progressive disease. Invasive hemodynamic study (HS) is required to confirm the diagnosis of PAH and to perform the vasodilator test (VT) with adenosine. Vasodilator acute responders (VAR) may have a sustained benefit with diltiazem. There is not national information regarding these issues. All patients with probable PAH were evaluated with HS and VT. VAR were treated with diltiazem and followed up with functional class score (FC) and 6 minute walk test. After 6 months, a second HS was performed. Results: Between 2003 and 2008, 6/54 (11%) were VAR. All were women, 45 +/- 14 years old, 4 with idiopathic PAH, 4 in FCIII and 2 in FCII. After two years of treatment, all patients clinically improved. Walked distance significantly increased by 83 and 87 m at month 12 and 24 respectively. Hemodynamic parameters also improved. Therapy with diltiazem is effective in VAR patients supporting the convenience to perform the VT.

La Hipertensión Pulmonar Arterial (HAP) es una entidad grave y progresiva. El estudio hemodinámica (EH) permite certificar el diagnóstico y evaluar la vasorreactividad mediante adenosina. Los pacientes vaso-reactivos podrían responder a terapia con diltiazem. No existe información nacional al respecto. En nuestro programa todo paciente con sospecha de HAP es sometido a EH diagnóstico y de vasorreactividad. Los positivos son tratados con diltiazem y seguidos semestralmente según capacidad funcional (CF) y con test de caminata. Al 6º mes se efectúa un 2º EH. Entre 2003-2008, 6/54 (11%) de los pacientes con HAP fueron vasorreactivos. Todas mujeres, 45 +/- 14 años, 4 con HPA idiopática, 4 en CFIII y 2 en CFII. A los 2 años, todos mejoraron clínicamente. La distancia recorrida aumentó significativamente en los meses 12 y 24 en 83 y 87 m respectivamente. Todas las variables hemodinámicas mejoraron. La terapia con diltiazem es efectiva en los pacientes vaso-reactivos lo que justifica usar el test de vasorreactividad.

Pacientes con limitación crónica al flujo aéreo: efectos del entrenamiento muscular respiratorio con válvula de carga umbral construída con tecnología apropiada, asociado a apoyo nutricional / Patients with chronic airflow limitation: effects of muscular respiratory training with threshold load valve constructed according to appropriate technology, associated to nutritional support

To assess prospectively the effects of a controlled program of inspiratory muscle program and nutritional support in patients with chronic obstructive lung disease (COPD). 23 patients with COPD were randomly assigned into 4 groups. Group I received a 1000 kcal/day nutritional supplement, given as a casein based enteral nutritional formula; group III was subjected to inspiratory muscle training, using an inexpensive pressure threshold load valve constructed according to appropriate technology principles of the WHO, adjusted at 30 percent of Maximal Inspiratory Mouth Pressure and received also the nutritional supplement; group IV was trained but did not receive the nutritional supplement and group II was not trained nor supplemented. Patients were studied during 3 months and monthly, inspiratory muscle function, exercise capacity and antropometry were measured. A significant improvement in exercise capacity, maximal inspiratory pressure and inspiratory muscle endurance was observed in the 4 groups throughout the study. Trained subjects had greater improvement in their inspiratory muscle endurance, compared to untrained subjects. Nutritional support had no effect in inspiratory muscle function or exercise capacity. No changes in antropometric measures were observed. The pressure threshold load valve used in this study, improved inspiratory muscle endurance and nutritional support had no effect in patients with COPD