Disordered breathing during sleep in active acromegalic patients
Kouchiyama, S.; Masuyama, S.; Sinozaki, T.; Okita, S.; Tojima, Y.; Yamaguchi, T.; Kimura, H.; Honda, Y.; Kuriyama, T.
Nihon Kyobu Shikkan Gakkai Zasshi 26(9): 965-969
1988
ISSN/ISBN: 0301-1542 PMID: 3246789 Document Number: 324431
Polysomnography was performed in four patients with active acromegaly who had not undergone medical treatment. Two patients with relatively high HGH level (70.27 ng/ml, 113.16 ng/ml) and one obese patient with a relatively low HGH level (14.13 ng/ml) exhibited sleep apnea and oxygen desaturation. The non-obese patient with a relatively low HGH level (15.99ng/ml) was free from apnea episodes. Both central and obstructive apneas were seen in three patients. The patient with central apnea had congestive heart failure. The magnitude of desaturation was mild in two patients with no obesity. The obese patient demonstrated the most severe desaturation among the three. Ventilatory responses to O2 and CO2 did not reveal any relationship with sleep apnea and desaturation. We speculated that the high HGH level and development of obesity and complication of congestive heart failure may lead to sleep apnea in active acromegalic patients.