Postural effects on lung and chest wall volumes in late onset type II glycogenosis patients

•Respiratory failure (weak diaphragm) is lethal in late-onset type II glycogenosis.•We aimed to study diaphragmatic weakness and the respiratory muscles impairment.•Seated and supine spirometry and optoelectronic plethysmography were performed.•The supine fall of vital capacity is due to diaphragm and abdominal weakness.•Supine abdominal contribution to tidal volume is an index of diaphragmatic weakness.

Respiratory failure associated with diaphragmatic weakness is the first cause of death in late-onset type II glycogenosis (LO-GSDII). We aim to identify predictive factors of diaphragmatic weakness and investigate the pathophysiology of respiratory muscles impairment. Pulmonary function and chest wall volumes were measured in ten patients and eight controls (supine and seated). According to the change in forced vital capacity in supine (ΔFVC) we considered patients with (DW, ΔFVC > 25%) and without (noDW, ΔFVC < 25%) diaphragmatic weakness. Postural change made the supine abdominal contribution to tidal volume (%VAB) of DW to fall and the ribcage to increase and good correlation was found between %VAB and ΔFVC (R = 0.776). Patients showed reduced chest wall and abdominal inspiratory capacity (ICCW and ICAB) (p < 0.001) and low abdominal expiratory reserve volume (p < 0.01). Passing to supine DW did not increase ICCW and ICAB. ΔFVC occurs in LO-GSDII due to weakened diaphragm and abdominal muscles while intercostals are preserved. %VAB represents a new reliable index to detect diaphragmatic weakness.