Exercise training in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus: a controlled randomized trial

Author(s)

Prado, Danilo M. L. ^[1] ; Benatti, Fabiana B. ^{[2, 1]} ; de Sa-Pinto, Ana L. ^[1] ; Hayashi, Ana P. ^[1] ; Gualano, Bruno ^{[2, 1]} ; Pereira, Rosa M. R. ^[1] ; Sallum, Adriana M. E. ^[3] ; Bonfa, Eloisa ^[1] ; Silva, Clovis A. ^[3] ; Roschel, Hamilton ^{[2, 1]}

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Med, Div Rheumatol, BR-05403000 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Sao Paulo, Sch Phys Educ & Sport, BR-05025010 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[3] Univ Sao Paulo, Childrens Inst, Sch Med, Pediat Rheumatol Unit, BR-01246903 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY; v. 15, n. 2 2013.
• Web of Science Citations: 25

Abstract

Introduction: Exercise training has emerged as a promising therapeutic strategy to counteract physical dysfunction in adult systemic lupus erythematosus. However, no longitudinal studies have evaluated the effects of an exercise training program in childhood-onset systemic lupus erythematosus (C-SLE) patients. The objective was to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of a supervised aerobic training program in improving the cardiorespiratory capacity in C-SLE patients. Methods: Nineteen physically inactive C-SLE patients were randomly assigned into two groups: trained (TR, n = 10, supervised moderate-intensity aerobic exercise program) and non-trained (NT, n = 9). Gender-,body mass index (BMI)- and age-matched healthy children were recruited as controls (C, n = 10) for baseline (PRE) measurements only. C-SLE patients were assessed at PRE and after 12 weeks of training (POST). Main measurements included exercise tolerance and cardiorespiratory measurements in response to a maximal exercise (that is, peak VO2, chronotropic reserve (CR), and the heart rate recovery (Delta HRR) (that is, the difference between HR at peak exercise and at both the first (Delta HRR1) and second (Delta HRR2) minutes of recovery after exercise). Results: The C-SLE NT patients did not present changes in any of the cardiorespiratory parameters at POST (P > 0.05). In contrast, the exercise training program was effective in promoting significant increases in time-to-exhaustion (P = 0.01; ES = 1.07), peak speed (P = 0.01; ES = 1.08), peak VO2 (P = 0.04; ES = 0.86), CR (P = 0.06; ES = 0.83), and in Delta HRR1 and Delta HRR2 (P = 0.003; ES = 1.29 and P = 0.0008; ES = 1.36, respectively) in the C-SLE TR when compared with the NT group. Moreover, cardiorespiratory parameters were comparable between C-SLE TR patients and C subjects after the exercise training intervention, as evidenced by the ANOVA analysis (P > 0.05, TR vs. C). SLEDAI-2K scores remained stable throughout the study. Conclusion: A 3-month aerobic exercise training was safe and capable of ameliorating the cardiorespiratory capacity and the autonomic function in C-SLE patients. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 11/08302-0 - Effects of chronic aerobic training on the insulin sensitivity of patients with systemic lupus erythematosus
• Grantee: Fabiana Braga Benatti
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships in Brazil - Post-Doctoral