Neurophysiological mechanisms of exertional dyspnea in post-pulmonary embolism syndrome
Kathryn M. Milne, Matthew D. James, Reginald Smyth, Sandra G. Vincent, Namisha Singh, Christine L. D’Arsigny, Juan P. de‐Torres, Kerstin de Wit, Amer M. Johri, J. Alberto Neder, Denis E. O’Donnell, Devin B. Phillips
Abstract
This study is the first to show that increased exertional dyspnea in patients with post-pulmonary embolism (PE) syndrome, without overt pulmonary hypertension, was strongly associated with elevated inspiratory neural drive (IND) to the diaphragm during exercise, compared with healthy controls. The greater IND was associated with impairments in pulmonary gas exchange and significant deconditioning. Our results help to explain why many patients with post-PE syndrome report significant dyspnea at relatively low levels of physical activity.