[Differential diagnosis of obstructive and central sleep apnea in polysomnographic investigation].

AIM: To try validity of polysomnography in differential diagnosis of obstructive and central sleep apnea (SA).

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

A retrospective analysis was made of 138 cases of sleep apnea (SA) subjected to polysomnography. 79 of them were treated with continuous positive pressure.

RESULTS

In clinical practice it is rather difficult to distinguish between central and obstructive SA. In this respect, polysomnography was also unreliable as it is predisposed to hyperdiagnosis of central SA.

CONCLUSION

In SA diagnosis, polysomnography should be used in combination with other diagnostic methods. In indeterminate diagnosis, a test course of the positive pressure is recommended to exclude obstructive SA.