II. Definitions

  1. Central Sleep Apnea
    1. Cessation of air flow and respiratory effort for at least 10 seconds
    2. Effects diaphragmatic or intercostal effort

III. Causes

  1. Decreased responsivity of central Chemoreceptors
    1. Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
    2. Obesity-Hypoventilation Syndrome (Pickwickian syndrome)
  2. Increased responsiveness of Chemoreceptors
    1. High altitude
  3. Delayed transit of information
    1. Cerebrovascular Accident
    2. Congestive Heart Failure

IV. Symptoms

  1. Insomnia
  2. Mild and intermittent snoring
  3. Major Depression

V. Management

  1. See Obesity-Hypoventilation Syndrome (Pickwickian syndrome)
  2. Positive Airways Pressure (BiPAP)
    1. Avoid CPAP (worsens Central Sleep Apnea)
    2. Use BiPap for patients with Central Sleep Apnea (by Sleep Study)
  3. Tricyclic Antidepressants
  4. Progesterone
  5. Acetazolamide

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Related Studies

Ontology: Sleep Apnea, Central (C0520680)

Definition (MSH) A condition associated with multiple episodes of sleep apnea which are distinguished from obstructive sleep apnea (SLEEP APNEA, OBSTRUCTIVE) by the complete cessation of efforts to breathe. This disorder is associated with dysfunction of central nervous system centers that regulate respiration.
Definition (NCI) A broad classification of disorders which includes 6 subtypes (primary central sleep apnea, central sleep apnea due to Cheyne-Stokes breathing pattern, central sleep apnea due to medical condition not Cheyne-Stokes, central sleep apnea due to high-altitude periodic breathing, central sleep apnea due to drug or substance and primary sleep apnea of infancy) that are each characterized by interruptions in breathing while asleep. It is caused by improper signaling from the brainstem to respiratory muscles and is triggered by either hypoventilation or hyperventilation. In adults, this disorder may arise following a stroke, congestive heart failure, trauma, infection or the use of narcotic medications. It is more common in older males and may present as a co-morbid condition to obesity. Clinical signs include snoring, insomnia or hypersomnia, difficulty concentrating and fatigue. Recurrent episodes of hypoxia/hypoxemia have long-term detrimental effects on cardiovascular health.
Concepts Disease or Syndrome (T047)
MSH D020182
ICD10 G47.31
SnomedCT 27405005
English Alveolar Hypoventilation, Central, Alveolar Hypoventilations, Central, Apnea, Central, Apneas, Central, Central Alveolar Hypoventilation, Central Apnea, Central Apneas, Hypoventilation, Central Alveolar, Hypoventilations, Central Alveolar, SLEEP APNEA, LETHAL CENTRAL, APNEA, CENTRAL SLEEP, central sleep apnea (diagnosis), central sleep apnea, Apnea, Sleep, Central, Apneas, Central Sleep, Central Sleep Apnea, Central Sleep Apneas, Sleep Apnea, Central, Sleep Apneas, Central, Central Sleep Apnea Syndrome, Breathing, Central Sleep-Disordered, Central Sleep Disordered Breathing, Central Sleep-Disordered Breathing, Sleep Disordered Breathing, Central, Sleep-Disordered Breathing, Central, Breathings, Central Sleep-Disordered, Central Sleep-Disordered Breathings, Sleep-Disordered Breathings, Central, Ondine Syndrome, Sleep Apnea, Central [Disease/Finding], apnea central, apnea central sleep, central sleep apnoea, central sleep apnea syndrome, central alveolar hypoventilation, central apnea, sleep apnea central, ondine syndrome, Apnea, Central Sleep, Sleep Apnea, Lethal Central, Central Alveolar Hypoventilation Syndrome, Central apnea, Central sleep apnea, Central sleep apnoea, Central sleep apnea syndrome, Central sleep apnoea syndrome, CSA - Central sleep apnea, CSA - Central sleep apnoea, Central sleep apnea syndrome (disorder)
Dutch centraal slaap apneu syndroom, centraal slaapapneusyndroom, Ademhalingsstoornis tijdens de slaap, centrale, Apnoe, centrale slaap-, Centrale slaap-apnoe, Hypoventilatie, centrale alveolaire, Ondine-syndroom, Slaap-apnoe, centrale
French Syndrome d'apnée du sommeil centrale, SAS centraux, Syndrome d'apnées centrales du sommeil, SAS central, Syndrome d'apnée centrale, Hypoventilation alvéolaire centrale, Apnée centrale du sommeil, Syndrome d'Ondine, Apnée du sommeil d'origine centrale
German zentrales Schlafapnoe-Syndrom, Apnoe, Schlaf-, zentrale, Ondine-Syndrom, Schlafapnoe, zentrale, Zentrale Schlafapnoe, Hypoventilation, zentral-alveoläre, Schlafstörungen beim Atmen, zentralbedingt
Italian Sindrome centrale da apnea del sonno, Sindrome centrale di apnea nel sonno, Sindrome da apnea da sonno centrale, Apnea centrale, Ipoventilazione alveolare centrale, Respirazione disordinata di sonno centrale, Sindrome di Ondina, Apnea da sonno centrale
Portuguese Síndrome de apneia central do sono, Apneia do Sono Tipo Central, Apneia do Sono Central, Hipoventilação Alveolar Central, Respiração Desordenada Durante o Sono Tipo Central, Síndrome de Ondine
Spanish Síndrome de apnea de sueño central, Síndrome de apnea central del sueño, Alteraciones Respiratorias Centrales Durante el Sueño, síndrome de apnea del sueño central (trastorno), síndrome de apnea del sueño central, Apnea Central del Sueño, Apnea del Sueño Central, Hipoventilación Central Alveolar, Síndrome de Ondine
Japanese 中枢性睡眠時無呼吸症候群, チュウスウセイスイミンジムコキュウショウコウグン, Ondineの呪い, 睡眠時無呼吸-中枢性, オンディーヌの呪い症候群, 中枢性睡眠時無呼吸, 原発性低換気症候群, 原発性肺胞低換気症候群, オンディーンの呪い, 中心性肺胞性低換気, 中枢型睡眠時無呼吸, 中枢性無呼吸, 中枢性睡眠障害性呼吸, 中枢性肺低換気, 低換気-中心性肺胞性, 低換気-中枢性肺, 低換気症候群-原発性, 無呼吸-中枢性, 無呼吸-睡眠時-中枢性, 睡眠障害性呼吸-中枢性, 肺低換気-中枢性, 肺胞低換気症候群-原発性
Swedish Sömnapne, central
Czech spánková apnoe centrální, Ondinin syndrom, hypoventilace centrální alveolární, Syndrom centrální spánkové apnoe
Finnish Sentraalinen uniapnea
Russian GIPOVENTILIATSII IDIOPATICHESKOI TSENTRAL'NOI AL'VEOLIARNOI SINDROM, GIPOVENTILIATSIIA TSENTRAL'NAIA AL'VEOLIARNAIA, APNOE TSENTRAL'NOGO GENEZA VO VREMIA SNA, APNOE TSENTRAL'NOE VO SNE, APNOE TSENTRAL'NOGO GENEZA, АПНОЭ ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОГО ГЕНЕЗА, АПНОЭ ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОГО ГЕНЕЗА ВО ВРЕМЯ СНА, АПНОЭ ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОЕ ВО СНЕ, ГИПОВЕНТИЛЯЦИИ ИДИОПАТИЧЕСКОЙ ЦЕНТРАЛЬНОЙ АЛЬВЕОЛЯРНОЙ СИНДРОМ, ГИПОВЕНТИЛЯЦИЯ ЦЕНТРАЛЬНАЯ АЛЬВЕОЛЯРНАЯ
Polish Bezdech senny ośrodkowy
Hungarian Centralis alvási apnoe syndroma
Norwegian Ondines forbannelse, Ondines syndrom, Sentral søvnapné, Sentral alveolær hypoventilasjon