PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - J. Ulrich Sommer
AU  - Joachim T. Maurer
AU  - Karl Hörmann
AU  - Boris A. Stuck
TI  - nCPAP's functional effects on ciliary function of nasal respiratory epithelium
DP  - 2012 Sep 01
TA  - European Respiratory Journal
PG  - P432
VI  - 40
IP  - Suppl 56
4099  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P432.short
4100  - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/40/Suppl_56/P432.full
SO  - Eur Respir J2012 Sep 01; 40
AB  - Continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) is the gold standard in therapy of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) but is associated with numerous side effects often related to the nose and the upper airway. Humidified CPAP may, in-part relieve these symptoms. Nevertheless, little is known regarding the effects on ciliary function (CF).M+MIn this prospective, randomized, crossover trial patients with OSA (AHI>20) were included and randomized to one of two treatment arms, nCPAP with or nCPAP without humidification, for a period of eight weeks. At the end of the eight-week period patients were swapped to the alternative treatment arm for a further eight week period. CF (beat frequency [CBF] and mucus transport time [MTT]) were assessed before and one day after the beginning of nocturnal ventilation and again at the end of each treatment arm.RThe baseline CBF was 4.7±0.6Hz, the MTT 568±185s. Short-term changes without humidification (CBF +0.7±0.8Hz, MTT: -152±158s) and with humidification (CBF +0.7±0.82Hz +92±208s) were not statistically significant. Regarding the long-term effects, CPAP without humidification significantly increased the CF above the baseline level by +2.5±0.4Hz and -167±175s (p<0.01) and even more so with humidification (+4.6±0.7Hz, -256±95s; p<0.01).DIndependent of airway humidification, nCPAP has limited effects on short-term ciliary function of the nasal respiratory epithelium that is not statistically significant. However, long-term effects showed a significant increase in ciliary function both in terms of an increased beat frequency and an increase in mucus transport time that has not been described previously. The effect was more pronounced when humidification was used during nCPAP.