Breathing pattern during exercise in myopathic subjects.

Previous studies have described a neurogenic-induced ventilatory tachypneic response during exercise. The present paper compares the breathing pattern of control and myopathic human subjects submitted to exercise. Peripheral neurogenic stimuli (PNS) at the same level of oxygen consumption should be enhanced in myopathic subjects as a consequence of muscular mass loss. Myopathic individuals showed hyperventilation (increased VeO2 and VeCO2) which was mostly due to higher respiratory frequency. The shorter respiratory cycle was due chiefly to Te reduction, since the Ti/TTOT ratio was greater in the myopathic individuals for a VO2 of 1 L. These results are in agreement with previous studies in anesthetized dogs and in unanesthetized humans in which a tachypneic mechanism associated to the relative work load was observed. These results also suggest that PNS may have a facilitatory effect upon the inspiratory off switch mechanism.