title: Cerebral hemodynamic changes at basilar artery in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome after continuous positive airway pressure treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cerebral vasoreactivity in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is altered. Continuous positive airway pressure is effective in the reduction of the occurrence of apneas. We studied whether this treatment also improves cerebral vasoreactivity.
  
  
  METHODS
  The breath-holding maneuver was performed and assessed by apnea test with transcranial Doppler in the basilar artery. After 2 years of continuous positive airway pressure treatment, the test was repeated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There is an improvement in the apnea test after continuous positive airway pressure. There are increases in the pulsatility index, diastolic blood pressure, and basal heart rate. The improvement in the apnea test depends on the body mass index of the patient.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cerebral vasoreactivity as measured by the apnea test improves after 2 years of continuous positive airway pressure. This improvement depends of the body mass index of the patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurology, San Pedro de Alcántara Hospital, Cáceres, Spain. Electronic address: pjimenez1010j@yahoo.es.
authors.forename: Pedro Enrique
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Jiménez Caballero
authors.forename: Ramón
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Coloma Navarro
authors.forename: Oscar
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Ayo Martín
authors.forename: Tomás
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Segura Martín
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015992:Body Mass Index; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006439:Hemodynamics / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography