Respiratory Muscle Fatigue following Exercise in Patients with Interstitial Lung Disease

Abstract Background: It is not known whether respiratory muscle fatigue occurs as a consequence of exercise in patients with interstitial lung disease (ILD) and, if so, to what extent it is related to changes in dynamic lung volumes. Objectives: To assess the development of respiratory muscle fatigue in patients with ILD and relate it to the respiratory pattern during exercise. Methods: Sixteen ILD patients (11 women) performed incremental, symptom-limited cycle ergometry with inspiratory capacity manoeuvres used to measure changes in end-expiratory lung volume (EELV). Twitch transdiaphragmatic pressure (TwPdi) and twitch gastric pressure (TwT 10 Pga), in response to magnetic stimulation, were used to assess the development of fatigue.