Respiratory muscle function in endocrine diseases

This review reports evidence showing that the function of the respiratory muscles (RMs) is affected in endocrinopathies and emphasizes that clinicians should look for RM weakness in hormone inbalances. Although there is a potential pathophysiological mechanism for affecting RM in diabetes insipidus, hypoparathyroidism, Cushing's disease, pheochromocytoma, adrenalin deficiency or androgen disorder, no study was found in the available literature. Therefore, investigations are urgently needed in these diseases. Controversial results have been reported in acromegaly, hypopituitarism, diabetes mellitus and steroid-induced (iatrogenic) RM myopathy. Obviously, these are areas for further research. Respiratory muscle dysfunction has been well documented in thyroid disease and there is general agreement that both hypo- and hyperthyroidism are associated with reversible respiratory muscle weakness.