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. 2025 Feb 18:19:e18743064365386.
doi: 10.2174/0118743064365386250212050147. eCollection 2025.

Impact of Aerobic Exercise on Oxygenation, Pulmonary Function, and Nasal Nitric Oxide in Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Gabriel Gonzalez-Diaz  1 , Zachary J Demetriou  1 , Jose Muñiz-Hernandez  2 , Marcos J Ramos-Benitez  1 , Ricardo A Mosquera  3 , Wilfredo De Jesús-Rojas  1
Affiliations

Impact of Aerobic Exercise on Oxygenation, Pulmonary Function, and Nasal Nitric Oxide in Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia

Gabriel Gonzalez-Diaz et al. Open Respir Med J. .

Abstract

Background: Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia (PCD) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by impaired mucociliary clearance, resulting in chronic respiratory complications. While exercise benefits respiratory health, its impacts on PCD remain understudied.

Objective: The objective of this study was to assess how moderate aerobic exercise influences FEV1, SpO2, and nNO levels in PCD patients, with a focus on short-term post-exercise changes.

Methods: This is a matched case-control pilot study involving 12 PCD patients homozygous for the RSPH4A (c.921+3_921+6del) mutation and 12 healthy controls (HC). Baseline FEV1, SpO2, and nNO levels were measured before participants underwent a six-minute exercise challenge test (ECT) on a stationary bicycle. Post-exercise measurements included FEV1 at 5, 10, 15, and 20 minutes, nNO after final spirometry, and SpO2 at 5 minutes.

Results: The PCD group experienced a significant increase in SpO2 from 95.5% ± 2.1 to 97.7% ± 1.5 post-exercise (p < 0.05), while the HC group had stable SpO2 levels with a minor increase from 97.9% ± 1.5 to 98.9% ± 1.4 (p = 0.14). No significant changes in FEV1 or nNO levels were observed post-exercise in either group. One HC participant exhibited exercise-induced bronchoconstriction.

Conclusion: Aerobic exercise improves oxygenation in PCD patients without adverse effects on pulmonary function or nNO levels. Further research is necessary due to the small sample size and genetic homogeneity to confirm these findings and evaluate long-term outcomes. Moreover, this pilot study highlights the safety and potential respiratory benefits of aerobic exercise in PCD patients, supporting further investigation into its role in clinical management.

Keywords: Exercise; Nitric Oxide; Oxygen Saturation; Primary Ciliary Dyskinesia; Quality of Life; RSPH4A; Respiratory Physiology.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest, financial or otherwise.

Figures

Fig. (1)
Fig. (1)
FEV1 response to aerobic exercise.
Fig. (2)
Fig. (2)
Nasal Nitric Oxide response to Aerobic Exercise.
Fig. (3)
Fig. (3)
Oxygen saturation response to Aerobic Exercise.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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