Arterial blood pressure response to transient arousals from NREM sleep in nonapneic snorers with sleep fragmentation.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the hemodynamic effects of graded arousals during nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep in patients with partial upper airway obstruction during sleep without obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea, overnight beat-to-beat BP was recorded in six patients.


METHODS
At the end of each nonapneic obstructive event, EEG responses were graded as follows: grade 2, grade 1, and grade 0 were defined as increased high-frequency EEG lasting >15 s, 3 to 15 s, and no EEG arousals according to the American Sleep Disorders Association, respectively.


RESULTS
The following were observed during grade 0, 1, and 2 EEG patterns (mean+/-SD): systolic pressure increased by 7.1+/-1.5, 11.7+/-1.9, and 14.2+/-3.4 (p<0.005), respectively; diastolic pressure increased by 4.6+/-0.6, 6.7+/-1.7, and 9.4+/-3.0 (p<0.005), respectively; heart rate increased by 2.9+/-0.4, 3.9+/-2.2, and 8.6+/-4.6 (p<0.005), respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that nonapneic-nonhypopneic obstructive events are followed by arterial systemic pressure increases whose magnitude varies with the grade of the arousal.
Lofaso
F
F
Service de Physiologie-Explorations Fonctionnelles, Institut National de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale, Hôpital Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
Goldenberg
F
F
d'Ortho
M P
MP
Coste
A
A
Harf
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000402:Airway Obstruction / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001143:Arousal / Q000502:physiology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012913:Snoring