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. 2010 Dec;30(6):281-4.

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS): effects on the vestibular system

S Gallina  1 , F Dispenza, G Kulamarva, F Riggio, R Speciale
Affiliations

Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS): effects on the vestibular system

S Gallina et al. Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2010 Dec.

Abstract
in English, Italian

Aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) on the peripheral and central vestibular system, by means of a case series prospective study at the University referral centre of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery; 45 consecutive patients suffering from OSAS were compared with a control group of 30 volunteer subjects selected from among the department employees. Severity of the disease was evaluated by means of cardio-respiratory function monitoring during sleep; the apnoea-hypopnoea index was calculated. Both groups underwent: 1) head and neck examination; 2) fibre-optic examination; 3) pure tone audiometry; 4) evaluation of eye movement disorders using oculomotility tests recorded with the help of video-nystagmography; 5) caloric vestibular responses recorded with video-nystagmography; 6) auditory brainstem response. Results, when evaluating our data, showed that the peripheral vestibular system may become asymmetric due to hypoxic damage while the central vestibular system corrects this disequilibrium.

Obiettivo del presente studio è la valutazione degli effetti dell'OSAS sul sistema vestibolare periferico e centrale. A questo scopo è stato realizzato uno studio prospettico presso un centro di riferimento Universitario di Otorinolaringoiatria e Chirurgia della Testa e del Collo, basato sullo studio di un gruppo di 45 pazienti consecutive affetti da OSAS confrontati con un gruppo di controllo di 30 soggetti normali. La severità della malattia è stata valutata con monitoraggio cardio-respiratorio nel sonno con calcolo dell'indice apnea-ipopnea. Entrambi i gruppi sono stati esaminati con: visita completa ORL, esame endoscopico, audiometria, videonistagmografia, prove caloriche, ABR. I risultati dello studio hanno evidenziato che il sistema vestibolare periferico può diventare asimmetrico o iporeflessico a causa del danno ipossico, mentre il sistema vestibolare centrale ripristina il corretto equilibrio.

Keywords: Disequilibrium; Dizziness; Imbalance; OSAS; Vertigo.

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