Neurophysiological mechanisms of exertional dyspnea in advanced pregnancy: A case study

The neurophysiological mechanisms of exertional dyspnea in advanced pregnancy remain incompletely understood. This short case report describes the neurophysiological and sensory responses during standardized cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in one healthy adult female at three timepoints: a) 3 months pre-pregnancy, b) 35 weeks pregnant (third trimester [T3]), and, c) 1 year post-partum. At rest and during exercise, detailed measurements of neurophysiological, gas-exchange and sensory parameters were completed. Compared to both pre-pregnancy and post-partum, ventilatory requirements, electrical activation of the diaphragm (EMGdi, index of inspiratory neural drive) and esophageal pressure swings were higher in T3 throughout exercise. Moreover, at a given work rate, perceived dyspnea was greater in T3 compared with pre-pregnancy and post-partum and increased in close association with heightened EMGdi throughout exercise. At peak exercise in T3, dyspnea/ventilation and EMGdi/ventilation ratios were greater, compared with pre-pregnancy and post-partum. Compared with pre-pregnancy, EMGdi and perceived dyspnea were greater post-partum near the limits of exercise tolerance, secondary to earlier onset of respiratory compensation-mediated increases in ventilation. In the current case, advanced pregnancy was associated with markedly elevated ratings of dyspnea and lower exercise capacity during a standardized clinical CPET. At submaximal intensities, the heightened dyspnea reflected the awareness of pregnancy-induced increases in ventilatory requirements, inspiratory neural drive, and respiratory muscle effort. At the limits of tolerance, heightened dyspnea and inspiratory neural drive reflected a complex combination of increase ventilatory requirements and mechanical constraints on tidal volume expansion. Compared with pre-pregnancy, residual activity-related dyspnea 1-year post-partum appears to reflect physical deconditioning. • Advanced pregnancy was associated with elevated dyspnea ratings during cardiopulmonary exercise testing. • At submaximal intensities, greater dyspnea was linked to pregnancy-induced increases in inspiratory neural drive (IND). • At the limits of tolerance, high dyspnea and IND were linked to greater ventilatory requirements and mechanical constraint. • Compared with pre-pregnancy, residual activity-related dyspnea 1-year post-partum appears to reflect physical deconditioning.