Role of lower limb muscle dysfunction in the functional capacity limitation of pulmonary arterial hypertension patients

• Grant number: 07/04862-6
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants
• Start date: March 01, 2008
• End date: February 28, 2011
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Medicine - Medical Clinics
• Principal Investigator: Rogério de Souza
• Grantee: Rogério de Souza
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina (FM). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). São Paulo , SP, Brazil

Abstract

Pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) is a severe disease that impairs the functional capacity and the quality of life, mainly in young adults. Even though there is no cure to the disease, significant improvements have been reached through better knowledge about the pathophysiology of vascular remodeling, characteristic of the disease, leading to better survival. However, the mechanisms related to exercise limitation, the most common symptom in PAH, have not been clarified yet. Cardiovascular dysfunction is so far considered as the main responsible for such limitation, more specifically, the right ventricular failure consequent to increased afterload. Nevertheless, it is well known that other factors, as peripheral muscular dysfunction, may influence the exercise capacity in other clinical conditions characterized by low cardiac output, such as left ventricular failure, for example. The present study aims to clarify the role of lower limb musculature in the exercise limitation of PAH patients. Methods: a total of 20 PAH patients will be enrolled in this transversal study. All patients will be submitted to evaluation of functional capacity (six-minute walk test and shuttle test), peripheral muscle strength (isokinetic dynamometry), quality of life (SF-36 questionnaire), total body composition (bioelectrical impedance and thigh computerized tomography) and muscular biopsy. We expect to quantify the functional capacity limitation in PAH patients and identify the multiple factors that may be related to this limitation, as well as specifically determine the role of the peripheral musculature dysfunction. Perspectives: These results are significantly important to allow the development and prescription of new treatment modalities that focus on muscular dysfunction in this population, as cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. Consequently, together with specific therapies for PAH treatment, additional improvements may be reached in terms of quality of life, functional capacity and survival. (AU)

Scientific publications

(References retrieved automatically from Web of Science and SciELO through information on FAPESP grants and their corresponding numbers as mentioned in the publications by the authors)

BREDA, ANA PAULA; PEREIRA DE ALBUQUERQUE, ANDRE LUIS; JARDIM, CARLOS; MORINAGA, LUCIANA KATO; SUESADA, MILENA MAKO; CESAR FERNANDES, CAIO JULIO; DIAS, BRUNO; LOURENCO, RAFAEL BURGOMEISTER; SALGE, JOAO MARCOS; SOUZA, ROGERIO. Skeletal Muscle Abnormalities in Pulmonary Arterial Hypertension. PLoS One, v. 9, n. 12, DEC 2 2014. (07/04862-6)