Diaphragm dysfunction in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

Hypercapnic respiratory failure because of inspiratory muscle weakness is the most important cause of death in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). However, the pathophysiology of failure of the diaphragm to generate force in COPD is in part unclear.

Objectives

The present study investigated contractile function and myosin heavy chain content of diaphragm muscle single fibers from patients with COPD.

Methods

Skinned muscle fibers were isolated from muscle biopsies from the diaphragm of eight patients with mild to moderate COPD and five patients without COPD (mean FEV(1) % predicted, 70 and 100%, respectively). Contractile function of single fibers was assessed, and afterwards, myosin heavy chain content was determined in these fibers. In diaphragm m

SUBMITTER: Ottenheijm CA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2718467 | biostudies-literature | 2005 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature