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The Journal of the American Board of Family Medicine 21 (5): 466-468 (2008)
DOI: 10.3122/jabfm.2008.05.070274
© 2008 American Board of Family Medicine
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Brief Report

Resolution of Syncope With Treatment of Sleep Apnea

Floyd B. Willis, MD, Amber L. Isley, MD, Yonas E. Geda, MD, MSc, Luther Quarles, IV and Paul A. Fredrickson, MD

Department of Family Medicine (FBW, ALI), Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
Department of Psychiatry and Psychology (PAF), Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
Department of Internal Medicine (PAF), Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
Department of Neurology (LQ), Mayo Clinic, Jacksonville, Florida
Division of Tertiary Psychiatry and Psychology (YEG), Mayo Clinic, Rochester, Minnesota

Correspondence: Corresponding author: Amber L. Isley, MD, Department of Family Medicine, Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224 (E-mail: isley.amber{at}mayo.edu)

Sleep apnea is a common disorder associated with obesity and related health problems. Although treatment of sleep apnea may relieve some autonomic symptoms, it is currently unknown whether treatment of sleep apnea is specifically associated with the resolution of orthostatism and syncope. Herein we describe a 73-year-old man who had recurrent episodes of syncope. An extensive work-up, including cardiac and neurologic consultations, failed to identify the cause. An objective sleep evaluation led to the diagnosis of sleep apnea. Accordingly, the patient was treated with continuous positive airway pressure, which resolved the syncopal episodes. This case report generates a potentially important hypothesis that recurrent syncope may be effectively treated, in part, by correcting apnea. In patients with recurrent syncope of unknown etiology, a diagnosis of sleep apnea should be considered.




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