Chronic Intermittent Hypoxemia in Patients with Obstuctive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Causes Reduction of Peripheral Nerve Motor Fibers (Unit Number)

Abstract

Objective:Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a chronic intermittent hypoxic process. In this study, we aimed to investigate electrophysiologically the changes in number of skeletal muscle motor unit due to chronic intermittent hypoxemia in cases followed up with the diagnosis of OSAS.Materials and Methods:According to the apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), patients divided into two groups (group 1: AHI 0.5). Maximum M mean area of nerve medianus was 50.8±20.4 (16.1-121.7) in group 1 and 48.6±20.05 (10.5-111.4) in group 2 (p=0.55). The mean MUNE values were 155.3±41.17 (46.6- 251.7) in group 1 and 127.7±40.2 (22.8-235) in group 2 (p<0.00).Conclusion:The MUNE method demonstrates that chronic intermittent hypoxemia during sleep causes reduction of the motor unit number in OSAS patients and is an independent risk factor for subclinical polyneuropathy.

Keywords

• Obstructive Sleep Apnea syndrome
• hypoksemia
• motor unit number