Terapias adyuvantes a la terapia antifibrótica en la fibrosis pulmonar idiopática: importancia del manejo multidisciplinario / Adjuvant therapies to antifibrotic therapy in IPF: importance of multidisciplinary management

La fibrosis pulmonar idiopática (FPI) se caracteriza por presentar una capacidad funcional reducida, disnea e hipoxia inducida por el ejercicio, lo que disminuye su tolerancia al esfuerzo y limita su capacidad de realizar actividades diarias. Las comorbilidades son frecuentes y su presencia contribuyen al empeoramiento de la calidad de vida y aumento de la mortalidad. Por lo anterior, es que además de las terapias antifibróticas, los pacientes con FPI se benefician de un enfoque integral de la atención que puede incluir: pesquisa, diagnóstico y tratamiento de comorbilidades, ingreso a protocolos de investigación, manejo sintomático, cuidados paliativos, oxígeno suplementario, rehabilitación pulmonar, educación y apoyo por un equipo multidisciplinario.

Idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is characterized by reduced functional capacity, dyspnea and exercise-induced hypoxia, which decreases tolerance to exertion and limits the ability to perform daily activities. Comorbidities are frequent and their presence contribute to worsening quality of life and increased mortality. Therefore, in addition to antifibrotic therapies, patients with IPF benefit of a comprehensive approach to care that may include: screening, diagnosis and treatment of comorbidities, admission to research protocols, symptomatic management, palliative care, supplementary oxygen, pulmonary rehabilitation, education and support by a multidisciplinary team.

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