Changes in Lung Ultrasound in Systemic Sclerosis Before and After Rehabilitation: A Comparative Study Between People with and Without Interstitial Lung Disease

Changes in Lung Ultrasound in Systemic Sclerosis Before and After Rehabilitation: A Comparative Study Between People with and Without Interstitial Lung Disease

There is limited research on the impact of a physiotherapy-guided rehabilitation program (PGRP) on lung structure in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Lung ultrasound (LUS) has been used for over a decade to identify interstitial lung disease associated with SSc (SSc-ILD). This study aims to evaluate the im...

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Main Authors: Samantha Gomes de Alegria, Matheus Mello da Silva, Jéssica Gabriela Messias Oliveira, Beatriz Luiza Pinheiro Alves de Azevedo, Nathália Alves de Oliveira Saraiva, Isabelle da Nóbrega Ferreira, Joana Acar Silva, Thiago Thomaz Mafort, Cláudia Henrique da Costa, Agnaldo José Lopes
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-05-01
Series:Advances in Respiratory Medicine
Subjects:
systemic sclerosis
rehabilitation program
lung ultrasound
Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2543-6031/93/3/9
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Summary:There is limited research on the impact of a physiotherapy-guided rehabilitation program (PGRP) on lung structure in systemic sclerosis (SSc). Lung ultrasound (LUS) has been used for over a decade to identify interstitial lung disease associated with SSc (SSc-ILD). This study aims to evaluate the impact of a PGRP on LUS signals in women with SSc-ILD and women without ILD (SSc-wILD). This is a longitudinal quasi-experimental study that included 33 women with SSc. The results show that changes in LUS were observed in 22 participants, especially B-lines > two. Before the PGRP the median of B-lines > two was three (0–7), while after the PGRP it was three (0–6) (<i>p</i> = 0.020). The aeration score was eight (0–16.5) pre-PGRP and three (0–16) post-PGRP (<i>p</i> = 0.013). Analyzing the impact of the PGRP on LUS signals in SSc-ILD and SSc-wILD groups, the main change observed was a reduction in B-lines > two between pre-PGRP and post-PGRP in the SSc-ILD group (<i>p</i> = 0.0004). The SSc-ILD group had a higher aeration score than the SSc-wILD group both pre-PGRP (<i>p</i> < 0.0001) and post-PGRP (<i>p</i> = 0.0001)]. In conclusion, LUS may be a complementary tool for assessing pre- and post-PGRP changes in people with SSc-ILD and SSc-wILD. Our data also suggest that the PGRP can elicit measurable changes in LUS findings in SSc, particularly in SSc-ILD. These findings support the inclusion of LUS in the routine monitoring of SSc and the use of a PGRP as a non-pharmacologic adjunctive strategy in SSc.
ISSN:2543-6031

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