RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Treatment for obstructive sleep apnoea: effect on peripheral nerve function
JF Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery & Psychiatry
JO J Neurol Neurosurg Psychiatry
FD BMJ Publishing Group Ltd
SP 295
OP 297
DO 10.1136/jnnp.2006.102806
VO 78
IS 3
A1 Dziewas, Rainer
A1 Schilling, Matthias
A1 Engel, Philipp
A1 Boentert, Matthias
A1 Hor, Hyon
A1 Okegwo, Angelika
A1 Lüdemann, Peter
A1 Ringelstein, E Bernd
A1 Young, Peter
YR 2007
UL http://jnnp.bmj.com/content/78/3/295.abstract
AB Background and objective: Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is suggested to be associated with peripheral nerve damage. A case–control study was conducted to provide further support to this observation. In a longitudinal intervention study, it was examined whether treatment for OSA has a possible beneficial effect on peripheral nerve function. Methods: Participants were 23 patients with OSA and 23 controls matched for age and body mass index (BMI), all without any known cause of peripheral nerve damage. The sensory nerve action potential (SNAP) amplitudes of both sural nerves were determined. After 6 months of treatment for OSA, treatment compliance was evaluated and nerve conduction studies were repeated. Results: Patients with OSA had significantly lower mean (standard deviation) sural SNAP amplitudes than controls (6.3 (3.5) v 11.2 (5.0), p<0.001). Multivariate regression analysis including the variables age, BMI and Apnoea–Hypopnea Index (AHI) showed that both age (p<0.01) and AHI (p<0.05) were inversely related to the SNAP amplitude. On follow-up, the sural SNAP showed an increase of 2.6 mV on average (p<0.001). Multivariate regression analysis including the variables age, BMI, AHI, pretreatment SNAP and treatment compliance identified only treatment compliance as being significantly related to the SNAP increase (p⩽0.005). Conclusion: OSA is an independent risk factor for axonal dysfunction of peripheral sensory nerves. Impaired neural function is at least partly reversible with treatment for sleep apnoea.