Cachexia in chronic obstructive pulmonary disease: new insights and therapeutic perspective

Abstract

Cachexia and muscle wasting are well recognized as common and partly reversible features of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), adversely affecting disease progression and prognosis. This argues for integration of weight and muscle maintenance in patient care. In this review, recent insights are presented in the diagnosis of muscle wasting in COPD, the pathophysiology of muscle wasting, and putative mechanisms involved in a disturbed energy balance as cachexia driver. We discuss the therapeutic implications of these new insights for optimizing and personalizing management of COPD‐induced cachexia.

Formoterol decreases muscle wasting as well as inflammation in the rat model of rheumatoid arthritis

“…It has been reported that FoxO1 and FoxO3 protein activity were unchanged in human cancer cachexia (61). Furthermore, in humans with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, muscle atrophy is associated with an increase in Akt activation (17,57). These and several other data indicate that under certain conditions Akt/FoxO and atrogene activity can be independent of each other.…”

Muscle wasting and sarcopenia in heart failure: a brief overview of the current literature

“…1 The term sarcopenia, on the other hand, was coined in 1989 by Rosenberg and colleagues. [3][4][5] The diagnosis can be made by using weighing scale and by asking the patient for his or her weight before HF developed or 12 months before the actual date. Cachexia is frequent not only in patients with HF but also in patients with CKD, COPD, and neurological diseases as well as in rheumatoid arthritis.…”

Relation between body mass index, forced expiratory volume in one second and 6 minute walk test in stable COPD patients

“…7,8 Loss of oxidative type of muscle fibre, atrophy, and increased protein turnover are mechanisms explained for sarcopenia. 9 In a study done by Van Manen comorbidities were present in more than 50% of patients. 10 An interesting finding was only hypertension and history of tuberculosis was positively associated with COPD among 15 comorbidities.…”