Aerobic capacity and muscle strength in juvenile-onset mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD)

作者：van der Net J; Wissink B; van Royen A; Helders P J M; Takken T^*

来源：Scandinavian Journal of Rheumatology, 2010, 39(5): 387-392.

DOI：10.3109/03009741003742714

Methods: Eleven children and adolescents diagnosed with MCTD (mean age 15.7 years, range 11.3-19.9 years) were studied. Maximal exercise testing on a cycle ergometer was used to determine the peak oxygen uptake (VO(2peak)) and a hand-held dynamometer was used to measure muscle strength. Cardiac and pulmonary function tests (ultrasonography, electrocardiography, spirometry) were used to measure cardiac function and obstructive or restrictive respiratory impairment. Complementary data (e.g. disease duration and concurrent symptoms) were collected from a medical chart review.
Results: VO(2peak) was significantly lower in patients with MCTD compared to the VO(2peak) of healthy subjects (Z-score -1.9, p = 0.008). The strength of the proximal muscles (hip flexors, shoulder abductors, knee extensors) of the patients was significantly lower than in the controls, whereas the strength of the distal muscles (dorsal flexors of the foot and handgrip strength) showed no differences. In eight children, arthritis was observed. No clinically relevant impairment in cardiac or pulmonary function was observed.
Conclusions: Aerobic capacity and also proximal muscle strength were significantly impaired in our sample of children and adolescents with MCTD. Because respiratory problems were non-dominant in our patient group, the decreased aerobic capacity and muscle strength were probably caused by musculoskeletal impairments. Further studies in larger multicentre samples are warranted to confirm our findings.

• 出版日期2010