Use of a new generation of adaptive servo ventilation for sleep-disordered breathing in patients with multiple system atrophy

Abstract

A 70-year-old man (case 1) and a 64-year-old woman (case 2) with multiple system atrophy (MSA) and snoring were admitted for polysomnography. Their awake PaCO2 indicated normocapnia. Apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI), max transcutaneous carbon dioxide partial pressure (PtcCO2) and ΔPtcCO2 (max PtcCO2 (during sleep)-baseline PtcCO2 (while awake)) were 11.4/h, 63 mm Hg and 18 mm Hg, respectively, in case 1 and 53.1/h, 59 mm Hg and 13 mm Hg, respectively, in case 2. Their sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) was diagnosed as obstructive sleep apnoea with hypoventilation. We thought that variable expiratory positive airway pressure and pressure support ventilation (advanced-adaptive servo ventilation (ASV)) might be favourable for their SDB. Polysomnography after introducing advanced-ASV revealed that AHI, max PtcCO2 and ΔPtcCO2 were 0.2/h, 53 mm Hg and 5 mm Hg, respectively, in case 1 and 1.5/h, 56 mm Hg and 9 mm Hg, respectively, in case 2. Advanced-ASV for treating Cheyne-Stokes breathing may be helpful in SDB in patients with MSA.