Otorhinolaryngology Unit, Biomedicine and Neurosciences Clinic Department, University of Palermo, Italy.
Acta Otorhinolaryngol Ital. 2010 Dec;30(6):281-4.
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.
本研究旨在通过耳鼻喉头颈外科大学转诊中心的病例系列前瞻性研究，评估阻塞性睡眠呼吸暂停综合征（OSAS）对周围和中枢前庭系统的影响。将 45 例连续患有 OSAS 的患者与从该科室员工中选出的 30 名志愿者对照组进行比较。通过睡眠期间的心肺功能监测评估疾病的严重程度；计算呼吸暂停低通气指数。两组均进行以下检查：1）头颈部检查；2）纤维光学检查；3）纯音测听；4）使用视频眼震图记录眼球运动障碍检查眼动障碍；5）视频眼震图记录冷刺激前庭反应；6）听觉脑干反应。在评估我们的数据时发现，由于缺氧损伤，外周前庭系统可能会变得不对称，而中枢前庭系统会纠正这种失衡。
