SLEEP-APNEA CAUSED BY RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

Sleep apnoea syndrome (SAS) is a rarely documented, but possibly letha l, complication of the instability of the cervical spine in rheumatoid arthritis. Five patients with SAS of a central or peripheral origin a re presented, and the problems of recognizing and diagnosing the syndr ome are discussed. We hope that clinicians will become more aware of t he existence and the different aetiologies of SAS, thus improving earl y recognition and appropriate treatment. Adequate treatment has proven to increase survival in peripheral SAS and seems to be successful in doing so in central SAS.