Abstract

Impairments of respiratory muscle function are clinically essential in COPD patients. Both an increased load imposed to the respiratory muscles and a reduced capacity of the respiratory muscles primarily due to alterations in breathing mechanics are well known causes for respiratory muscle dysfunction. New scientific effort, however, has elaborated that cellular and molecular alterations occur, of which some can be considered reasonable as they produce resistance to fatigue. On the other hand, reduced diaphragm force generation at single fibre level is increasingly recognised, which is due to muscle fibre atrophy of the diaphragm in COPD patients. There is also increasing evidence to support that diaphragm loading and/or systemic inflammation/oxidative stress are driving factors for the proteolytic cascade in diaphragmatic muscle fibres of COPD patients. Of note, these alterations already occur early in the course of COPD.

Author Details

Authors

• W. Windisch

Departments

• Abteilung Pneumologie, Lungenklinik Merheim, Kliniken der Stadt Köln gGmbH

Address

Prof. Dr. med. W. Windisch
Abteilung Pneumologie
Lungenklinik Merheim
Kliniken der Stadt Köln gGmbH
Ostmerheimer Straße 200
D-51109 Köln
Email: [email protected]

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