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Background: In patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS), the preference-based, health-related quality of life in terms of utility has not been extensively studied. Objective: To address this point, we compared the performance of different instruments assessing utility in patients with OSAS undergoing continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. Materials and Methods: Data of 208 patients with OSAS (28 women, mean ± SE age 54.4 ± 0.7 years, apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) 51.9 ± 1.8/h, Epworth sleepiness score 13.4 ± 0.2) participating in a randomized trial of different CPAP modalities over 2 years were analyzed. Evaluations included sleep studies, Epworth sleepiness scale, and several utility instruments that measure subjective health preference on a scale ranging from 1 (most preferred and perfect health) to 0 (least preferred and very poor health). Results: After 2 years of CPAP therapy, the mean ± SE AHI was 6.7 ± 1.5/h and Epworth score 7.9 ± 0.4, both p < 0.001 versus baseline. Baseline utilities and changes (95% confidence interval) after 2 years of CPAP therapy were EuroQol 5-dimensions 0.79 ± 0.01, 0.02 (0.00–0.05, p = 0.064); short-form 6-dimension medical outcome questionnaire 0.72 ± 0.01, 0.06 (0.04–0.08, p < 0.001); Euro-thermometer visual analog scale 0.70 ± 0.01, 0.09 (0.07–0.12, p < 0.001); time trade-off 0.82 ± 0.01, 0.03 (0.01–0.06, p = 0.002); and standard gamble 0.82 ± 0.01, −0.01 (−0.03 to 0.02, p = 0.712). Conclusion: The short-form 6-dimensions questionnaire, the Euro-thermometer, and the time trade-off instruments reflected the major clinical improvements in OSAS, while the EuroQoL 5-dimensions and standard gamble tests were not sensitive to CPAP effects. These results indicate that the evaluation of utility of a treatment for OSAS depends critically on the instrument used, which is important from an individual and societal perspective.

Zusammenfassung. Eine 65-jährige Patientin mit bekanntem kontrolliertem Asthma wurde mit der Diagnose einer ambulant erworbenen Pneumonie («community-acquired pneumonia») wegen fehlendem Ansprechen auf Antibiotika zur weiteren Abklärung zugewiesen. Klinische Begleitsymptome und Laborbefunde liessen den Verdacht auf eine seltene Vaskulitis aufkommen, die eosinophile Granulomatose mit Polyangiitis (EGPA). Die Diagnose und Behandlung stellen eine Herausforderung dar, besonders beim Mitbefall vitaler Organe.

BackgroundThe obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is conventionally treated by continuous positive airway pressure set at a fixed level (fCPAP). Automatic mask pressure adjustment (autoCPAP) is increasingly used during home therapy. We investigated whether autoCPAP is equivalent to fCPAP in improving sleepiness in patients with OSAS in the long-term.MethodsIn this multicentre equivalence trial, 208 patients with OSAS, with median Epworth sleepiness score (ESS) 13, apnoea/hypopnoea index 48.4/hour, were randomised to treatment with autoCPAP (5–15 mbar) or fCPAP (pressure set at the 90th percentile applied by autoCPAP during 2–4 weeks adaptation). Coprimary outcomes were changes in subjective and objective sleepiness from baseline to 2 years after treatment. Equivalence ranges were ±2 points in ESS and ±3 min sleep resistance time evaluated by recording responses to light signals.ResultsAt 2 years, in the intention to treat analysis, the reduction in sleepiness versus pretreatment baseline was similar in patients using autoCPAP (n=113, mean ESS-change −6.3, 95% CI −7.1 to −5.5; sleep resistance time +8.3 min, +6.9 to +9.7) and fCPAP (n=95, mean ESS-change −6.2, 95% CI −7.0 to −5.3; sleep resistance time +6.3 min, +4.7 to +7.8). The 95% CI of difference in ESS-reduction between autoCPAP and fCPAP was −0.9 to +1.4 and the 95% CI of difference in increase in sleep resistance time was −2.6 to +1.0 min. Blood pressure reduction and OSAS-related costs were similar between groups.ConclusionsAutoCPAP and fCPAP are equivalent within prespecified ranges in improving subjective and objective sleepiness in patients with OSAS over the course of 2 years. Costs of these treatments are similar.Trial registration numberClinicalTrials.gov NCT00280800.

Einnicken am Steuer ist eine häufige und verhütbare, aber bisher noch zu wenig beachtete Ursache von Verkehrsunfällen. Eine Hypersomnie mit unfreiwilligem Einschlafen am Steuer in gefährlichen Situationen wird durch akuten oder chronischen Schlafmangel, durch die Schlafqualität beeinträchtigendes Verhalten und krankhafte Schlafstörungen begünstigt. Eine häufige Erkrankung, die sich typischerweise mit vermehrter Einschlafneigung manifestiert, ist das obstruktive Schlafapnoe Syndrom. Betroffene Patienten haben ein deutlich erhöhtes Risiko für Unfälle im Straßenverkehr. Die Früherkennung, Abklärung und Behandlung betroffener Fahrzeuglenker sowie eine gezielte Aufklärung der Öffentlichkeit über das Risiko des Einnickens am Steuer können wesentlich zur Verhütung solcher Unfälle beitragen.

Background . Lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS) improves dyspnea, pulmonary function, and quality of life in selected patients with severe emphysema. We investigated the role of emphysema morphology in 37 patients as an outcome predictor for up to 2 years after operation. Methods . Patients selected for bilateral thoracoscopic LVRS were divided, according to a simplified emphysema morphology classification, into three groups (homogeneous, moderately heterogeneous, and markedly heterogeneous) based on a preoperative chest computed tomogram. Pulmonary function, walking distance, and dyspnea were assessed. Results . Functional improvement after LVRS was best in markedly heterogeneous emphysema with an increase from preoperative forced expiratory volume in 1 second of 31% ± 2% (mean ± standard error of the mean) to 52% ± 4% of predicted postoperatively. It was significantly higher than in homogeneous emphysema (from 26% ± 1% to 38% ± 2% predicted) and in intermediately heterogeneous emphysema (from 29% ± 2% to 44% ± 45% predicted). At 24 months postoperatively, forced expiratory volume in 1 second and dyspnea score continued to be significantly better than preoperative levels in all three morphologic groups. The survival rate was highest in patients with markedly heterogeneous emphysema. Conclusions . Functional and subjective improvements were maintained after LVRS for at least 24 months in patients with heterogeneous or homogeneous emphysema type.

We tested the practicability of dipyridamole myocardial nitrogen-13 ammonia positron emission tomography (dipyridamole (13)NH(3 )PET) for the perioperative risk assessment of coronary artery disease (CAD) in a cohort of patients with severe chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) undergoing lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). Twenty consecutive LVRS candidates, 13 men and 7 women (mean age 57+/-2 years), without symptoms of CAD were prospectively studied by dipyridamole (13)NH(3 )PET. Side-effects and overall tolerance were assessed by a questionnaire and visual analogue scale. Repeated pulmonary function tests were performed before and 4, 12, 16 and 30 minutes after dipyridamole injection. All dipyridamole (13)NH(3 )PET studies were negative for CAD. Seventeen patients underwent LVRS without cardiac complications; three patients did not undergo LVRS for other reasons. Nine patients suffered intolerable dyspnoea requiring i.v. aminophylline. Mean FEV(1) decreased significantly after dipyridamole infusion: in nine patients the reduction in FEV(1)exceeded 15% from baseline. We found that dipyridamole is not well tolerated and causes significant bronchoconstriction in patients with severe COPD. Although all dipyridamole-induced side effects can be promptly reversed by aminophylline, dipyridamole cannot be recommended as a pharmacological stress in this setting.

Lung perfusion scintigraphy is employed to evaluate patients with severe emphysema who are candidates for lung volume reduction surgery (LVRS). Our purpose was to investigate the role of scintigraphy in relation to chest computed tomography (CT) and lung function in this setting. Six observers blinded to clinical data retrospectively scored preoperative scintigrams of 70 patients undergoing bilateral video-assisted LVRS according to the distribution of lung perfusion as homogeneous, intermediately heterogeneous, or markedly heterogeneous. Heterogeneity of emphysema distribution was also assessed by chest CT. Dyspnea and pulmonary function were measured preoperatively and 3 mo postoperatively. In 42 patients with markedly heterogeneous, in 18 with intermediately heterogeneous, and in 10 with homogeneous perfusion, mean (+/- SE) FEV1 increased by 57 +/- 8% (p < 0.0001), 38 +/- 9% (p < 0.001), and 23 +/- 9% (p = NS) (p = NS for intergroup comparisons). In a multiple regression analysis, functional improvement after LVRS was more closely correlated with preoperative hyperinflation and the degree of emphysema heterogeneity estimated by chest CT than with the degree of perfusion heterogeneity assessed by scintigraphy. In 16 of 22 patients with homogeneous emphysema distribution in the chest CT scintigraphy revealed intermediately or markedly heterogeneous perfusion. We conclude that lung perfusion scintigraphy has a limited role in prediction of outcome, but it may help to identify target areas for resection in LVRS candidates with homogeneous CT morphology.

Sleep related breathing disorders (SBD) are common and associated with morbidity and mortality. Since polysomnography, the conventional diagnostic gold standard is costly and not generally available, ambulatory respiratory polygraphic sleep studies (RP) are used. To evaluate whether RP reimbursement by health insurance companies was justified, the Swiss Federal Office of Public Health (FOPH) requested registration of RP during 36 months and a literature review on RP. The results are reported here.RP reimbursed from July 2002 to December 2005 by Swiss health insurance companies were analysed. A review of the literature from 2003 comparing RP with PSG was updated. The outcome of interest was the apnoea/hypopnoea index.Datasets on 11,485 RP were evaluated, 8179 were performed to evaluate suspected obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). In patients with snoring, witnessed apnoea and hypersomnia (n = 4180), 80.2% of RP confirmed OSAS, 3.5% of RP were inconclusive prompting polysomnography. Six studies published between 2003 and 2005 were pooled with a former review of 12 studies. With a mean pre-test probability of 64% for OSAS, the post-test probability after a negative result ranged from 8% (negative likelihood ratio of 0.05) to 23% (negative likelihood ratio of 0.20). The post-test probability after a positive result was within a range of 98% (positive likelihood ratio of 23.8) to 90% (positive likelihood ratio of 5.7).In selected patients with clinically suspected OSAS RP allows accurate and simple diagnosis of OSAS. According to the practice in Switzerland as reflected by the registry additional PSG are rarely required, suggesting relevant cost savings by RP. Granting reimbursement for RP as introduced in the meantime by the FOPH seems justified.

We report two cases of a suspected interaction between clindamycin and cyclosporin. Case 1 was in a 48 year old woman with α1-antitrypsin deficiency who had right sided single lung transplantation for end stage pulmonary emphysema. After B cell lymphoma affecting the transplanted lung was diagnosed, immunosuppression was reduced to a target concentration of cyclosporin of 100-150 μg/l Owing to bronchopulmonary infection with …