TY - JOUR T1 - Respiratory somnology: a clinical update JF - European Respiratory Review JO - EUROPEAN RESPIRATORY REVIEW SP - 113 LP - 114 DO - 10.1183/09059180.00010601 VL - 16 IS - 106 AU - G. M. Verleden AU - B. Buyse AU - D. Pevernagie AU - M. Demedts Y1 - 2007/12/01 UR - http://err.ersjournals.com/content/16/106/113.abstract N2 - During recent years, it has become evident that disturbed sleep, whether central sleep apnoea syndrome or obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB), may lead to several other effects, such as cardiovascular diseases and many metabolic disturbances. Although the treatment of these sleeping problems is based on ventilatory support and pharmacological agents (in the case of central sleep apnoea or hypoventilation), positive airway pressure systems or upper airway surgery/oral appliances (in the case of obstructive SDB), the treatment effects are not always clear. The treatment effects, in particular on metabolic disturbances, need more investigation, whereas some effects, for instance, on cardiovascular outcome parameters, already seem quite convincing. Related ethical dilemmas may also arise, such as “sleep apnoea and driving”, where it is not always easy to find the optimal solution. The purpose of the international symposium “Respiratory … ER -