Sympathetic skin response in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Sleep Medicine
• Autonomic Function Testing

Background:

• Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with autonomic dysfunction.
• Sympathetic skin response (SSR) is a non-invasive measure of sympathetic nervous system activity.
• Understanding sympathetic nervous system function in OSAS is crucial for managing associated cardiovascular risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To assess sympathetic nervous system function in patients with OSAS using SSR.
• To compare SSR findings in OSAS patients with non-apneic snorers and healthy controls.
• To identify patterns of SSR abnormalities and their correlation with polysomnographic parameters in OSAS.

Main Methods:

• A cohort of 15 male patients with OSAS, evaluated by polysomnography, underwent SSR testing.
• Comparison groups included 7 non-apneic snorers and 26 healthy controls.
• SSR parameters, including latency and response presence, were analyzed and correlated with polysomnography data.

Main Results:

• Patients with OSAS exhibited significantly longer mean hand SSR latency compared to controls and non-apneic snorers.
• A characteristic finding in OSAS was the absence of a foot SSR response in 12 out of 15 patients.
• No significant correlations were found between SSR abnormalities and polysomnographic parameters in the OSAS group.

Conclusions:

• The sympathetic skin response (SSR) test is a valuable tool for evaluating sympathetic nervous system function, particularly sudomotor activity, in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).
• OSAS is associated with distinct abnormalities in sympathetic nervous system conduction, evidenced by delayed and absent SSR.
• Further research may explore the clinical implications of these SSR findings in OSAS management.