Brainstem evoked potentials in adult sleep apnea.

Brainstem evoked potentials (BSEP) were recorded in 23 patients with adult sleep apnea (ASA). Three patients were studied with all-night polysomnography prior to our testing. They were categorized as having obstructive, central, or mixed sleep apnea depending on the predominant sleep findings. All patients with central sleep apnea had abnormal BSEP with prolongation of wave V. A majority of the remaining patients with obstructive sleep apnea and mixed sleep apnea had abnormal BSEP, but without specific configurations. These findings substantiate our hypothesis that brainstem dysfunction may play a role in ASA.