Cutaneous silent period in patients with obstructive sleep apnea

Empirical evidence suggests that the duration of the Cutaneous Silent Period (CuSP) is significantly extended in pathological states such as Idiopathic Parkinson's Disease (IPD), Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS), and dystonia, all of which are correlated with the degeneration of dopaminergic neurons. This neurodegenerative process is a critical factor in the etiology of Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA). In light of this active participation, the present study sought to assess the CuSP in patients with OSA.

A cohort comprising forty individuals diagnosed with OSA and forty healthy controls, all of whom underwent polysomnographic assessments, was incorporated into this investigation. The study meticulously analyzed the onset time, termination time, and duration of the CuSP in both median nerves utilizing electromyographic techniques.

In the study examining the median nerve CuSP study, right and left CuSP was significantly prolonged in patients with OSA (p = 0.001, p < 0.001). Additionally, the onset time of the right and left CuSP was found to be shorter in the patient group (p = 0.017, p = 0.003).

The findings indicate that the duration of the CuSP is significantly prolonged in patients with OSA, similar to observations in IPD, RLS and dystonia. These results highlight the potential clinical relevance of CuSP duration as a biomarker for OSA-related neuronal alterations.