Mechanisms of Pharyngeal Collapse in Sleep Apnea, Study A

Completed · Not applicable

Conditions studied: Obstructive Sleep Apnea, Pathophysiology

In brief

In obstructive sleep apnea, the upper airway recurrently closes during sleep. The mechanisms that lead to airway closure are not completely understood. While the airway of some people narrows and airflow decreases during inspiration due to increasing inspiratory effort, others maintain constant airflow throughout inspiration. Airway neuromuscular reflexes may protect against airway narrowing that occurs due to increasing inspiratory effort. To test this hypothesis, the investigators will initially measure airway neuromuscular reflex and inspiratory flow and then attenuate neuromuscular reflex through topical pharyngeal anesthesia to observe the effects on inspiratory flow.

Key facts

Study ID

NCT01728974

Run by

Brigham and Women's Hospital

People needed

26

Starts

2012-12-08

Expected to finish

2018-12-26

Last updated by the study team

2019-07-11

Who can join

Age: 21 and older, up to 65. Sex: any. Healthy volunteers: accepted.

You may qualify if…

• Normal subjects or patients with OSA

You may not qualify if…

• Any unstable cardiac condition (other than well controlled hypertension) or pulmonary problems.
• Any medication known to influence breathing, sleep/arousal or muscle physiology
• Concurrent sleep disorders (insomnia, narcolepsy, central sleep apnea or parasomnia)
• Claustrophobia
• Inability to sleep supine
• Allergy to lidocaine or oxymetazoline HCl
• For women: Pregnancy

Where it is running

• Brigham and Women's Hospital — Boston, Massachusetts, United States

Full record on ClinicalTrials.gov

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