title: [The syndrome of increased upper airways resistance: What are the clinical features and diagnostic procedures?].
abstract: The upper airway resistance syndrome "UARS" is a poorly defined entity, often described as a moderate variant of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. It is associated with respiratory effort-related arousal, absence of obstructive sleep apnea, and absence of significant desaturation. It is a relatively common condition that predominantly affects non-obese young adults, with no predominance in either sex. The degree of upper airway collapsibility during sleep of patients with UARS is intermediate between that of normal subjects and that of patients with mild-to-moderate sleep apnea syndrome. Craniofacial and palatal abnormalities are often noted. Patients frequently complain of a functional somatic syndrome, especially daytime sleepiness and chronic fatigue. Polysomnography with esophageal pressure measurements remains the gold standard diagnostic test. The absence of any neurological abnormality gives UARS a good prognosis and it is potentially reversible if treated early. However, some studies suggest that untreated UARS has an increased risk of arterial hypertension. It can also evolve into obstructive sleep apnea.
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumo-allergologie, CHU Hédi Chaker, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie. Electronic address: msaadsameh@yahoo.fr.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: M'saad
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumo-allergologie, CHU Hédi Chaker, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie.
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Yangui
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumo-allergologie, CHU Hédi Chaker, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie.
authors.forename: W
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Feki
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumo-allergologie, CHU Hédi Chaker, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Abid
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumo-allergologie, CHU Hédi Chaker, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Bahloul
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumo-allergologie, CHU Hédi Chaker, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie.
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Marouen
authors.affiliation: Service d'oto-rhino-laryngologie, CHU Habib Bourguiba, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chakroun
authors.affiliation: Service de pneumo-allergologie, CHU Hédi Chaker, 3029 Sfax, Tunisie.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kammoun
mesh_terms: D003948:Diagnostic Techniques, Respiratory System; D006801:Humans; D011379:Prognosis; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy
keywords: Mandibular advancement devices; Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome; Orthèse d’avancée mandibulaire; Ronflement; Snoring; Somatic functional syndrome; Syndrome de haute résistance des voies aériennes supérieures; Syndrome d’apnées-hypopnées obstructives du sommeil; Syndrome fonctionnel somatique; Upper airway resistance syndrome