Sleep apnoea and organic solvent exposure.

Fifteen patients referred for the evaluation of possible organic solvent encephalopathy were studied by clinical polysomnography. Seven had more than 30 apnoeas per night and an apnoea index of higher than 5, thus fulfilling the commonly used criteria of the sleep apnoea syndrome. Another group of eight workers exposed to trichlorethane, examined without prior knowledge of their individual symptoms, showed a significantly elevated number of sleep apnoeas compared with nine controls. The results indicate that organic solvent exposure can cause sleep apnoea.