Clinical efficacy and indication of acetazolamide treatment on sleep apneasyndrome

The efficacy and indication of acetazolamide treatment on patients with sle ep apnea syndrome (SAS) were discussed from assessing the changes of polyso mnographic findings with the treatment in 75 SAS patients. For the patients as a whole, respiratory disorder variables improved significantly during t he treatment. However, the number of acetazolamide treatment responders who showed a decrease of apnea hypopnea index (AHI) to 50% or less of the pret reatment value numbered only 34 (45.3%). The lower values of body mass inde x and AHI in the responder group indicated that monotherapy with acetazolam ide is the treatment choice only for mild SAS cases without obesity. Howeve r, combined treatment with acetazolamide and uvulopalatopharyngoplasty was thought to be beneficial for severe cases.