Autonomic dysfunction in children with sleep-disordered breathing

Sleep. 2005 Jun;28(6):747-52. doi: 10.1093/sleep/28.6.747.

Abstract

Study objectives: To measure sympathetic responses in children with and without sleep-disordered breathing.

Design: Prospective, observational study.

Setting: Kosair Children's Hospital Sleep Medicine and Apnea Center.

Participants: Subjects were prospectively recruited from children undergoing overnight polysomnographic assessments and were retrospectively grouped according to the results of the polysomnogram. Sleep-disordered breathing was defined as an apnea-hypopnea index >5 and children were assigned to the control group if their apnea-hypopnea index was < 1.

Intervention: N/A.

Measurements and results: During quiet wakefulness, pulse arterial tonometry was used to assess changes in sympathetic activity following vital capacity sighs in 28 children with sleep-disordered breathing and 29 controls. Each child underwent a series of 3 sighs, and the average maximal pulse arterial tonometry signal attenuation was calculated. Further, a cold pressor test was conducted in a subset of 14 children with sleep-disordered breathing and 14 controls. The left hand was immersed in ice cold water for 30 seconds while right-hand pulse arterial tonometry signal was continuously monitored during immersion and 20-minute recovery periods. Signal amplitude changes were expressed as percentage change from corresponding baseline.

Results: The magnitude of sympathetic discharge-induced attenuation of pulse arterial tonometry signal was significantly increased in children with sleep-disordered breathing during sigh maneuvers (74.1% +/- 10.7% change compared with 59.2% +/- 13.2% change in controls; P<.0001) and the cold pressor test (83.5% +/- 7.3% change compared with 74.1% +/- 11.4% change in controls; P=.039). Further, recovery kinetics in control children were faster than those of children with sleep-disordered breathing.

Conclusion: Children with sleep-disordered breathing have altered autonomic nervous system regulation as evidenced by increased sympathetic vascular reactivity during wakefulness.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Autonomic Nervous System / physiopathology*
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Body Mass Index
  • Child
  • Cold Temperature
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Observation
  • Polysomnography
  • Prospective Studies
  • Retrospective Studies
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sleep Apnea Syndromes / diagnosis
  • Sleep Apnea Syndromes / physiopathology*
  • Wakefulness / physiology