Since 1981 the use of positive airway pressure through the nasal CPAP has been considered the main clinical treatment of the SAOS- sleep obstructive apnea syndrome, despite its low adhesion on a long- term. Some authors report that the nasal complaints from the continuous positive airway pressure in the nasal cavity are the main causes for the therapy discontinuance. This would probably occur because the treatment would lead to epithelium alterations and changes in the mucociliarytransport and hence, a greater number of upper respiratory infections. AIM: To evaluate the nasal mucociliary clearance in patients with SAHOS under nasal CPAP use through saccharin test, and correlate the adverse effects of this therapy with the treatment endurance and the pressure level used in it. STUDY DESIGN:Clinical study case-control. MATERIAL AND METHOD: Twenty five patients, carriers of SAHOS - between their 18 and 70 - submitted to nasal CPAP use for one month, were followed-up at the Instituto do Sono (UNIFESP-EPM) and subjected to the saccharin test. The results were compared to a group of 25 normal individuals. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference among the groups regarding the saccharin test. The adverse effects were present in 84% of the sample, being 60% for nasal dryness and 36% for nasal obstruction. CONCLUSIONS: The mucociliary transport stays normal in the SAHOS group submitted to nasal CPAP use and the nasal obstruction and nasal dryness do not present correlation with the treatment time and pressure level used by the device.
apnea; nasal clearance; saccharin test; CPAP; side effects
