title: Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS): effects on the vestibular system.
abstract: Aim of the present study was to evaluate the effects of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) on the peripheral and central vestibular system, by means of a case series prospective study at the University referral centre of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery; 45 consecutive patients suffering from OSAS were compared with a control group of 30 volunteer subjects selected from among the department employees. Severity of the disease was evaluated by means of cardio-respiratory function monitoring during sleep; the apnoea-hypopnoea index was calculated. Both groups underwent: 1) head and neck examination; 2) fibre-optic examination; 3) pure tone audiometry; 4) evaluation of eye movement disorders using oculomotility tests recorded with the help of video-nystagmography; 5) caloric vestibular responses recorded with video-nystagmography; 6) auditory brainstem response. Results, when evaluating our data, showed that the peripheral vestibular system may become asymmetric due to hypoxic damage while the central vestibular system corrects this disequilibrium.
authors.affiliation: Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Biomedicine and Neurosciences Clinic Department, University of Palermo, Italy.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gallina
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Dispenza
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kulamarva
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Riggio
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Speciale
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications*; D015837:Vestibular Diseases / Q000209:etiology*; D055815:Young Adult