Morphologic changes in the upper airway in patients with acute cerebral infarction / 中华神经科杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the feature of the morphology changes in the upper airway in patients with acute cerebral infarction and to find a new method to prevent and cure cerebral infarction.Methods Sixty-six patients with cerebral infarction confirmed by brain MRI or CT scan(within 3 weeks of onset) were recruited.The patients were examined by upper airway MRI scan and polysomnography (PSG).Then the patients were divided into obstructive sleep apnea hypopnca syndrome(OSAHS)group and non-OSAHS group.In addition.16 patients showing OSAHS but without stroke history(OSAHS nonstroke group)were included in the study.The sagittal and horizontal lengths of the nasopharynx,palatopharynx,glossopharynx and hypopharynx were measured and their closs-sectional areas were calculated.The length,thickness and cross-sectional area of the palate were also measured.Statistic analysis of each data among the groups was performed using SPSS software.Results Among 66 cases with acute cerebral infarction,75.8 % (50/66)were diagnosed with OSAHS.The anteropesterior diameer,left and right diameters and smallest section area in upper airway were all smaller in the OSAHS group with acute cerebral infaretion than those in the non-OSAHS group and OSAHS non-stroke group.The narrowest segments in upper airway were nasopharynx and ompharynx.which are caused by shortened left and right diameters.The area of the soft palate in the OSAHS-stroke group was significant bigger((452.2±99.6)mm2)than that in non-OSAHS group((350.0±69.4)mm2,t4.575,P<0.05).The lowest SO2 in OSAHS-stroke group(68.9 % ±10.5 % )was the lowest among three groups.The more severe the airway constriction was.the higher the apnea-hypopnea index(AHI)was and the lower the lowest SO2 was.Conclusion Patients withl stroke show higher incidence of OSAHS and present more severe multilevel upper airway constriction.Upper airway constriction may be the new target of early treatment for better prognosis of cerebral infarction.