title: Cerebral hemodynamics in obstructive sleep apnea.
abstract: We have investigated cerebral blood flow velocity (CBVF) in 14 patients with marked obstructive sleep apnea syndrome using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography during sleep. The CBFV increased during apnea, with a mean acceleration of 0.9 cm/s2, followed by a rapid decrease during snoring. The same effect was obtained by voluntary apnea in healthy subjects, showing a smaller acceleration rate (0.6 cm/s2). These results provide evidence for a normal CO2 regulation of cerebral vessels during sleep apnea and do not support the notion of cerebral hypoperfusion during sleep being a risk factor for stroke.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, Heinrich-Heine-Universität, Düsseldorf, Germany.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Siebler
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nachtmann
mesh_terms: D001049:Apnea / Q000503:physiopathology; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D002560:Cerebrovascular Circulation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000503:physiopathology*; D012913:Snoring / Q000503:physiopathology; D017585:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Transcranial