The drug, which was tested on 59 volunteer patients, is an inhibited carbonic anhydrase
Previous studies have not systematicallytested whether KA inhibitors could also be used to treat obstructive sleep apnea. The current study was a randomized, double-blind clinical trial and included patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea. Patients were randomly divided into two groups receiving 400 or 200 mg of a CA inhibitor and a third group (control) receiving placebo. The study lasted four weeks.
The results show that overall therapyreduced the number of respiratory pauses and promoted oxygenation during the night. Side effects were observed in several patients: headache and shortness of breath, which were more common in those who received the highest doses.
Among patients receiving higher dosedrug, the number of respiratory arrests decreased by about 20 per hour. Just over a third of the patients in the study had only half of their respiratory pauses remaining, and one in five had a reduction of at least 60%,” says Ian Hedner, professor of pulmonology.
Today the treatment of a patient with sleep apneais either an oral device therapy or a CPAP (constant positive airway pressure) mask. Both help keep the airway open while you sleep.
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