SYMPATHETIC SKIN-RESPONSE IN OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP-APNEA SYNDROME

Examination of the sympathetic skin response (SSR), a non-invasive met hod of studying conduction in the sympathetic nervous system was perfo rmed in 15 male patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) evaluated by polysomnography who were compared with 7 non-apneic snore rs and 26 controls. The aim of the study was to assess sympathetic ner vous system function in OSAS, to compare the results with those found in non-apneic heavy snorers, to define the pattern of abnormalities an d to study the correlations between SSR results and polysomnographic p arameters. In the OSAS group the mean hand latency was significantly l onger than in non-apneic snorers and healthy subjects. The most charac teristic pattern of abnormalities was an absence of a foot response fo und in 12 of 15 OSAS patients. There were no correlations between SSR abnormalities and polysomnographic parameters. The SSR method seems to be useful in assessment of the sympathetic nervous system, especially of those parts related to sudomotor function, in OSAS.