Baroreflex gain in children with obstructive sleep apnea.

ABSTRACT:

Rationale

We previously demonstrated that children with obstructive sleep apnea have increased blood pressure associated with changes in left ventricular mass index. Others have shown in adults that blood pressure variability is an important predictor of changes in left ventricular mass. The baroreflex system buffers blood pressure changes by varying heart rate. We have thus hypothesized that (1) baroreflex system gain is increased during sleep, improving blood pressure buffering; (2) children with obstructive sleep apnea lack this baroreflex gain increase; and (3) reduced blood pressure buffering results in exaggerated blood pressure variability that is associated with end-organ damage.

Objectives

Compare measures of left ventricular mass index and nighttime baroreflex gain

SUBMITTER: McConnell K 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2701502 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Jul

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature