Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and the pulmonary circulation.

The pulmonary hemodynamic consequences of obstructive sleep apneas have been investigated by several groups during the last 30 years. The earlier data have been obtained by measuring the intravascular pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and have shown a rise of PAP during apneas, the highest PAP being observed at the end of apneas. Actually, during obstructive apneas the only reliable measurements are those of transmural PAP which increases throughout the apneas, as a consequence of hypoxic vasoconstriction, and decreases after ventilation has resumed. The link between episodic (nighttime) and permanent (daytime) pulmonary hypertension is poorly understood. Recent studies have clearly indicated that daytime hypoxemia, generally due to an associated chronic airflow obstruction, is the major determinant of permanent pulmonary hypertension and cor pulmonale, and that nocturnal hypoxemia is not sufficient per se.