METHOD AND MEANS FOR PREVENTING, TREATING, AND DIAGNOSING CARDIOVASCULAR COMPLICATIONS IN PATIENTS WITH OBSTRUCTIVE SLEEP APNEA

摘要

A method of preventing and/or treating sympathetically induced cardiovascular complications such as coronary artery disease, cardiac failure, myocardial infarction, and stroke, in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) disorder, comprises inhibiting the activation of the sympathoadrenergic system by administration of a pharmacologically effective amount of an I1-receptor agonist (IRA) prior to and/or during a period of sleep. Also disclosed is the use of an I1-imidazoline receptor agonist (IRA) for the diagnosis of such complications and for the manufacture of a medicament for preventing and/or treating sympathetically induced cardiovascular complications during sleep in patients with a sleep related breathing disorder.