Muscular endurance and strength are lower in lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) patients compared to matched healthy controls, coincident with greater self-reported fatigue.
In a cross-sectional study of 15 LAM patients and 15 matched controls, LAM patients exhibited significantly lower muscular force (by 220±89 N), power (by 312±129 W), endurance (by 4674±1974 N*sec), and worse fatigue survey scores (p=0.02 to 0.0004). Poorer muscular endurance in LAM was associated with shorter 6-minute walk distance (r=0.68), lower VO2max (r=0.58), and worse fatigue (r=0.56). No differences in fiber type distribution were found.
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Muscular endurance and strength are lower in lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) patients compared to matched healthy controls, coincident with greater self-reported fatigue. The current body of evidence comprises 1 study. EvidenceHub rates the overall confidence at 34/100 (low).
The Claim
Muscular endurance and strength are lower in lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) patients compared to matched healthy controls, coincident with greater self-reported fatigue.
This conclusion is most relevant to: 15 patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and 15 matched individuals without LAM.
What the Research Shows
The conclusion draws on 1 linked study. Highlights from the cited literature:
- ▸Fatigue, Muscular Performance, and Quadriceps Fiber Type Profile in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis and Healthy Matched Controls. (Lung, 2026) —
How It Works
The proposed biological pathway:
- ▸LAM patients show reduced muscular force, power, and endurance compared to controls
- ▸Reduced muscular endurance correlates with worse fatigue and lower exercise capacity
- ▸No LAM+ cells detected in vastus lateralis samples, and no fiber type shift observed
- ▸Peripheral muscle mechanisms for fatigue and exercise intolerance in LAM remain unclear
Who Might Benefit
Evidence fit by population:
- ▸15 patients with lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM) and 15 matched individuals without LAM
Recommended Dose
N/A
Limitations & Caveats
Important context when interpreting this evidence:
- ▸Small sample size (15 per group) limits generalizability
- ▸Cross-sectional design cannot establish causality
- ▸No mechanistic explanation for muscle dysfunction was identified (no fiber type shift or LAM+ cells in muscle)
Frequently Asked Questions
What is lymphangioleiomyomatosis (LAM)?▼
LAM is a rare progressive lung disease that predominantly affects women, characterized by cystic lung destruction and often associated with fatigue and reduced physical activity.
Do LAM patients have skeletal muscle dysfunction?▼
Yes, this study found that LAM patients have significantly lower muscular force, power, and endurance compared to matched healthy controls, along with worse self-reported fatigue.
Is there a difference in muscle fiber type distribution in LAM?▼
No, this study found no significant differences in fiber type distribution between LAM patients and controls, unlike some other chronic lung diseases.
What is the relationship between muscle endurance and exercise capacity in LAM?▼
Poorer muscular endurance in LAM was associated with shorter 6-minute walk distance and lower VO2max, indicating that muscle dysfunction may contribute to exercise intolerance.
References
- 1.Brown MB, Child CE, Kim P, Kelly ML, Arons S, Cai HD, McQuade KJ, Lynch YT, Ho LA, Gonzalez-Cuyar LF. “Fatigue, Muscular Performance, and Quadriceps Fiber Type Profile in Lymphangioleiomyomatosis and Healthy Matched Controls..” Lung, 2026. PMID: 42604473 DOI: 10.1007/s00408-026-00916-9