Neuropathy and Dysautonomia in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome.

Introduction: The aim of our study is to search for the existence of neuropathy, dysautonomia and to identify the correlations of sickness level of patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS).

Methods: The research is based on the real cases at Dokuz Eylul University of Medicine Sleep and Epilepsy Center, observed during September 2008-May 2009. The patients were selected by polysomnography samples based on 20 persons at same ages with following criteria; high leveled OSAS (AHİ≥30), low OSAS (5≤AHİ<30) and healthy participants. Classical ENMG protocol, symphatic skin response and R-R interval variation test were performed on these samples.

Results: High and low leveled OSAS patients had a statistically significant (p<0.05) decrease in the average velocity of motor conduction in right tibialis posterior when compared to the control group. Besides we observed an statistically significant (p<0.05) increase in the average amplitud of symphatic skin responses in high leveled OSAS patients than control group.

Conclusion: OSAS indicates a risk of possible peripheral neuropathy and autonomic dysfunction risk increases in positive correlation with level of OSAS.