ABSTRACT
STUDY OBJECTIVES: Cheyne-Stokes respirations occur in 40% of patients with heart failure. Orthopnea is a cardinal symptom of heart failure and may affect the patient's sleeping angle. The objective of this study was to assess the respiratory and hemodynamic response to sleeping angle in a group of subjects with stable heart failure. DESIGN: Twenty-five patients underwent overnight polysomnography with simultaneous and continuous impedance cardiographic monitoring. Sleeping polysomnographic and impedance cardiographic data were recorded. SETTING: The study was conducted in a sleep center. PATIENTS: All 25 patients had clinically stable heart failure and left ventricular ejection fractions < 40%. INTERVENTIONS: The patients slept at 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, and 45 degrees in random order. MEASUREMENTS AND RESULTS: Seventeen patients had Cheyne-Stokes apneas (index > 5/h) and 23 patients had hypopneas (index > 5/h). The hypopnea index showed no response to sleeping angle. The Cheyne-Stokes apnea index decreased with increasing sleeping angle (P < 0.001). This effect was seen only during supine sleep and non-rapid eye movement sleep and was absent in non-supine sleep, rapid eye movement sleep, and during periods of wakefulness. Thoracic fluid content index and left ventricular hemodynamics measured by impedance cardiography showed no response to sleeping angle. CONCLUSIONS: Changing the heart failure patient's sleeping angle from 0 degrees to 45 degrees results in a significant decrease in Cheyne-Stokes apneas. This decrease occurs on a constant base of hypopneas. The changes in Cheyne-Stokes apneas are not related to changes in lung congestion and left ventricular hemodynamics.
Subject(s)
Cheyne-Stokes Respiration/etiology , Cheyne-Stokes Respiration/therapy , Heart Failure/complications , Heart Failure/physiopathology , Posture/physiology , Sleep/physiology , Aged , Cardiography, Impedance , Cheyne-Stokes Respiration/physiopathology , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Polysomnography , Respiratory System/physiopathology , Single-Blind Method , Stroke Volume , Treatment OutcomeABSTRACT
Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma is a rare disease. It is the most common form of primary pulmonary lymphoma but accounts for less than 1% of all non-Hodgkin's lymphomas. We describe a 67-year-old man who, despite successful treatment of active miliary tuberculosis, developed progression of a concomitant bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma. This case is in contrast to previous reports of gastrointestinal-mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas and bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue lymphomas, in which treatment of the precipitating antigenic stimulus lead to remission of the lymphoma.
