In vitro and in vivo muscle mass and strength during the first week of critical illness

Abstract Background Loss of muscle mass and strength is provoked by critical illness. Our primary aim was to study the development of muscle atrophy and weakness in vitro in isolated myofibers and in vivo muscle mass and in vitro muscle strength during the first week of critical illness. Furthermore...

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Main Authors: Wout J. Claassen, Isabel M. van Ruijven, Marloes van den Berg, Rianne J. Baelde, Alexcia Fortes Monteiro, Rajvi M. N. Balesar, Sylvia W. Hania, Donald L. van der Peet, Peter J. M. Weijs, Coen A. C. Ottenheijm, Sandra N. Stapel
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: SpringerOpen 2025-06-01
Series:Intensive Care Medicine Experimental
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Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1186/s40635-025-00755-7
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author Wout J. Claassen
Isabel M. van Ruijven
Marloes van den Berg
Rianne J. Baelde
Alexcia Fortes Monteiro
Rajvi M. N. Balesar
Sylvia W. Hania
Donald L. van der Peet
Peter J. M. Weijs
Coen A. C. Ottenheijm
Sandra N. Stapel
author_facet Wout J. Claassen
Isabel M. van Ruijven
Marloes van den Berg
Rianne J. Baelde
Alexcia Fortes Monteiro
Rajvi M. N. Balesar
Sylvia W. Hania
Donald L. van der Peet
Peter J. M. Weijs
Coen A. C. Ottenheijm
Sandra N. Stapel
author_sort Wout J. Claassen
collection DOAJ
description Abstract Background Loss of muscle mass and strength is provoked by critical illness. Our primary aim was to study the development of muscle atrophy and weakness in vitro in isolated myofibers and in vivo muscle mass and in vitro muscle strength during the first week of critical illness. Furthermore, we explored how in vitro muscle strength compares to healthy controls. Finally, we studied correlations between in vitro muscle mass and strength and in vivo muscle mass in critically ill patients. Methods We performed a secondary analysis using data from a randomized controlled trial. We studied contractile force of single myofibers isolated from muscle biopsies around admission (day 1–3) and around 1 week after inclusion (day 8–10). Furthermore, we studied myofiber cross-sectional area (CSA), proportion of fast-twitch myofibers, bio-electrical impedance analysis-derived fat-free mass index (FFMI), ultrasound-derived quadriceps muscle layer thickness (QMLT) and diaphragm thickness. In the control group, only contractile force outcomes were available. Results In total, ten ICU patients had two muscle biopsies taken. Maximum force of both fast and slow-twitch myofibers was reduced at day 8–10 compared to day 1–3, even though there were no differences in normalized force and calcium sensitivity. FFM and QMLT did not change over time, nor were there differences between groups. Compared to healthy controls, maximum force of myofibers was lower in the ICU group at day 8–10 in both slow and fast-twitch myofibers, while the calcium sensitivity of force was lower in slow-twitch myofibers. We found a significant correlation between myofiber CSA vs. FFMI (r = 0.68) and maximum force of the fast-twitch fibers vs. QMLT (r = 0.72). Conclusions During the first week of critical illness, maximum force declined over time, while no other in vitro parameters changed. We found a moderate correlation between myofiber CSA vs. FFMI and maximum force of the fast-twitch fibers vs. QMLT. Graphical Abstract
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spelling doaj-art-4e76a16b41a04f2589e22d906cb56e212025-08-20T02:10:34ZengSpringerOpenIntensive Care Medicine Experimental2197-425X2025-06-0113111210.1186/s40635-025-00755-7In vitro and in vivo muscle mass and strength during the first week of critical illnessWout J. Claassen0Isabel M. van Ruijven1Marloes van den Berg2Rianne J. Baelde3Alexcia Fortes Monteiro4Rajvi M. N. Balesar5Sylvia W. Hania6Donald L. van der Peet7Peter J. M. Weijs8Coen A. C. Ottenheijm9Sandra N. Stapel10Department of Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije UniversiteitDepartment of Adult Intensive Care Medicine, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije UniversiteitDepartment of Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije UniversiteitDepartment of Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije UniversiteitDepartment of Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije UniversiteitDepartment of Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije UniversiteitDepartment of Physiotherapy, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije UniversiteitDepartment of Surgery, Amsterdam Gastroenterology Endocrinology Metabolism, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije UniversiteitDepartment of Adult Intensive Care Medicine, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije UniversiteitDepartment of Physiology, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije UniversiteitDepartment of Adult Intensive Care Medicine, Amsterdam Cardiovascular Sciences, Amsterdam University Medical Center, Vrije UniversiteitAbstract Background Loss of muscle mass and strength is provoked by critical illness. Our primary aim was to study the development of muscle atrophy and weakness in vitro in isolated myofibers and in vivo muscle mass and in vitro muscle strength during the first week of critical illness. Furthermore, we explored how in vitro muscle strength compares to healthy controls. Finally, we studied correlations between in vitro muscle mass and strength and in vivo muscle mass in critically ill patients. Methods We performed a secondary analysis using data from a randomized controlled trial. We studied contractile force of single myofibers isolated from muscle biopsies around admission (day 1–3) and around 1 week after inclusion (day 8–10). Furthermore, we studied myofiber cross-sectional area (CSA), proportion of fast-twitch myofibers, bio-electrical impedance analysis-derived fat-free mass index (FFMI), ultrasound-derived quadriceps muscle layer thickness (QMLT) and diaphragm thickness. In the control group, only contractile force outcomes were available. Results In total, ten ICU patients had two muscle biopsies taken. Maximum force of both fast and slow-twitch myofibers was reduced at day 8–10 compared to day 1–3, even though there were no differences in normalized force and calcium sensitivity. FFM and QMLT did not change over time, nor were there differences between groups. Compared to healthy controls, maximum force of myofibers was lower in the ICU group at day 8–10 in both slow and fast-twitch myofibers, while the calcium sensitivity of force was lower in slow-twitch myofibers. We found a significant correlation between myofiber CSA vs. FFMI (r = 0.68) and maximum force of the fast-twitch fibers vs. QMLT (r = 0.72). Conclusions During the first week of critical illness, maximum force declined over time, while no other in vitro parameters changed. We found a moderate correlation between myofiber CSA vs. FFMI and maximum force of the fast-twitch fibers vs. QMLT. Graphical Abstracthttps://doi.org/10.1186/s40635-025-00755-7ICUMuscle massMuscle strength
spellingShingle Wout J. Claassen
Isabel M. van Ruijven
Marloes van den Berg
Rianne J. Baelde
Alexcia Fortes Monteiro
Rajvi M. N. Balesar
Sylvia W. Hania
Donald L. van der Peet
Peter J. M. Weijs
Coen A. C. Ottenheijm
Sandra N. Stapel
In vitro and in vivo muscle mass and strength during the first week of critical illness
Intensive Care Medicine Experimental
ICU
Muscle mass
Muscle strength
title In vitro and in vivo muscle mass and strength during the first week of critical illness
title_full In vitro and in vivo muscle mass and strength during the first week of critical illness
title_fullStr In vitro and in vivo muscle mass and strength during the first week of critical illness
title_full_unstemmed In vitro and in vivo muscle mass and strength during the first week of critical illness
title_short In vitro and in vivo muscle mass and strength during the first week of critical illness
title_sort in vitro and in vivo muscle mass and strength during the first week of critical illness
topic ICU
Muscle mass
Muscle strength
url https://doi.org/10.1186/s40635-025-00755-7
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