A review of the effects of some endocrinological factors on respiratory mechanics

摘要

Abstract Context: Endocrinological factors have been recently described to affect respiratory mechanics. Objective: To review recent literature data, most of all obtained by the end-inflation occlusion method, describing the effects of molecules of endocrinological interest such as endothelin, erythropoietin and renin-angiotensin, on respiratory mechanics parameters. Methods: The papers considered in this review were found by inserting in Pubmed/Medline the following indexing terms: hormones, endothelin, erythropoietin, angiotensin and respiratory mechanics. Results: It was found that the above cited molecules, beside their well known physiological main effects, exhibit influences on respiratory mechanics, most of all on the airflow resistance, which was described to be increased by endothelin and angiotensin, and decreased by erythropoietin. Conclusions: A number of molecules of biological interest exhibit unexpected influences on respiratory mechanics. The clinical effects depend on the consequences of modified inspiratory pressure values the respiratory muscles have to perform for a given breathing pattern.