Acute effects of adaptive servo-ventilation therapy on neurohormones and Cheyne-Stokes respiration in the patients with heart failure

Objective: Cheyne Stokes respiration (CSR) is frequently seen in the patients with heart failure (HF) and it increases mortality. In the present study, we aimed to evaluate acute effects of adaptive servo ventilation (ASV) on CSR and neurohormones in the patients with HF Methods: Nineteen males and 1 female patients with HF in the functional capacity of NYHA II-III were included into the study prospectively. One night polysomnography (PSG) was performed to all patients. In addition to medical treatment, 10 patients having CSR were applied ASV in another night together with PSG.. Arterial blood gases, plasma epinephrine and norepinephrine, serum N-terminal -pro-B type brain natriuretic peptide (NT-pro-BNP) were studied in the first night and after ASV treatment. A Wilcoxon test was used for comparison of parameters before and after treatment; and Mann-Whitney-U test was used for comparison of parameters between the patients with CSR and without CSR. Results: Mean age of 10 patients with CSR was 62.2 +/- 11.1 years. Their etiologies were ischemic in 9 patients and idiopathic dilated cardiomyopathy in 1 patient. While there were no significant differences in the levels of PaCO2, HCO3, PH, before and after treatment; PaO2 (75.3 mmHg) and SatO(2) (94.7%) significantly increased after the therapy (84.7 mmHg, 96.5% and p=0.007 and p=0.008 respectively). While NT-proBNP (3029.6 +/- 1450.5 pg/ml), norepinephrine (625.4 +/- 304.7 pg/ml) and epinephrine (65.4 +/- 24.1 pg/ml) were higher than normal before ASV treatment, all of them showed significant reductions after treatment (1694.0 +/- 925.9 pg/mvl, 333.9 +/- 165.4 pg/ml and 45.0 +/- 20.5 pg/ml; p=0.005, p=0.005 and p=0.02, respectively). Conclusions: One night ASV treatment improves CSR, partial pressure of oxygen in arterial blood, and oxygen saturation and provides significant reductions in plasma catecholamines and NT-proBNP levels in the patients with HF and CSR. Prospective studies are needed to evaluate long-term effects of ASV treatment on morbidity and mortality in the patients with HF (Anadolu Kardiyol Derg 2009; 9: 206-14)