Transient obstructive sleep apnea and asystole in association with presumed viral encephalopathy

Evidence suggests that untreated obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) can lead to hypertension, cardiovascular disease, and stroke. Conversely, the systemic effects of a wide variety of critical illnesses can lead to CNS dysfunction, which can precipitate respiratory failure. Reported is a patient in whom an acute encephalopathy may have been responsible for transient OSA.