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Aggregated occurrence of sleep apnea syndrome in a family
Author(s) -
Shimizu Osamu,
Inoue Yuichi,
Takada Kokichi,
Nanba Kazuyoshi,
Arai Heii
Publication year - 2001
Publication title -
psychiatry and clinical neurosciences
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.609
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1440-1819
pISSN - 1323-1316
DOI - 10.1046/j.1440-1819.2001.00847.x
Subject(s) - craniofacial , sleep apnea , apnea , obstructive sleep apnea , medicine , airway obstruction , airway , obesity , pediatrics , craniofacial abnormality , audiology , anesthesia , psychiatry
We experienced a family in whom sleep apnea syndrome (SAS) was recognized in six members and habitual snoring in seven members among 26 subjects of four generations. In all members with snoring, the disorder was noticed before the age of 20. Hypercapnic response study showed normal findings, and ultrafast magnetic resonance image of the upper airway revealed that the obstruction of the upper airway occurred at the velopharyngeal portion during apneic episodes in all SAS‐afflicted subjects. In this family, the similar craniofacial structural abnormalities were thought to cause the aggregated occurrences of the disorders at young ages, and obesity was regarded as a contributor for the aggravated symptoms.