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Sleep Disordered Breathing in Gulf War Syndrome Veterans and the Effect of Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP) Treatment - NCT00252629-11768(Clinical Trial 133155)



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City:  Northport
State:  
NY
Zip Code: 11768
Conditions: Apnea, Sleep - Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine any sleep disordered breathing in veterans with Gulf War Syndrome (GWS) and compare it to healthy normal asymptomatic Gulf War veterans. This study will also determine the effect of treatment with continuous positive airway pressure on veterans with Gulf War Syndrome. 1. The investigators hypothesize that sleep complaints (insomnia, un-refreshing sleep and daytime fatigue) among GWS patients are related to increased sleep fragmentation in GWS patients. 2. The investigators hypothesize that increased collapsibility of the upper airway during sleep with the development of inspiratory flow limitation (IFL) causes the increased sleep fragmentation in GWS patients. 3. The investigators hypothesize that correction of IFL in GWS patients will result in an improvement of their sleep quality resulting in an improvement of their sleep complaints and other functional symptoms.
Study summary: Hypothesis 1: To demonstrate that compared to Gulf War Veterans without GWS, GWS patients have decreased total sleep and increased sleep fragmentation In order to accomplish this goal and subsequent goals, we will assemble two samples of Gulf War veterans. The first will be a sample of male GWS patients and the second will be a sample of male Gulf War veterans without GWS (Gulf War veteran control group). All of the GWS patients will be registered in the Gulf War Veterans Registry. To avoid referral bias favoring the presence of IFL during sleep, we will enroll GWS patients by contacting them from the Registry and inviting them to participate. Gulf War veteran controls will be recruited in the same way and by advertisement. Prospective study participants will be screened on several self-report instruments to determine eligibility and assignment to the GWS group or to the Gulf War veteran control group. Criteria for assignment to the GWS group are scores above the designated clinical cutpoint on each of three instruments measuring cognitive difficulties, pain, and fatigue. Conversely, criteria for assignment to the GW Veteran control group will require scores in the non-clinical range on each of those instruments. Every subject will have a full night polysomnogram. Hypothesis 2: To demonstrate that the presence of IFL during sleep among GWS patients distinguishes them from Gulf War veterans without GWS A second sleep study will be used to accomplish this second objective. Using precise methods, we will quantify the prevalence of IFL during sleep in GWS patients and in Gulf War veteran controls. Following completion, each study will be staged using Rechtschaffen and Kales criteria. From each study, 3 three minute periods of continuous NREM sleep (a total of approximately 120 breaths) will be randomly selected and analyzed for the prevalence of flow limited breaths. During the three minute periods, all of the breaths will be analyzed whether they occur during sleep or during brief (< 15 second) arousals. Hypothesis 3: To demonstrate that relief of IFL during sleep will result in improvement of the functional symptoms of GWS patients We will accomplish this utilizing a double blind, placebo-controlled trial of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) in GWS patients. Functional symptoms will be assessed using validated, self-report questionnaires and daily ratings of symptoms with an electronic diary.
Criteria: Inclusion Criteria: - First Gulf War veterans with and without the syndrome - Males - Between 32 and 52 years of age - No history of current alcoholism nor opiate use - No history of current active depression nor post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Exclusion Criteria: - Females - History of active alcoholism or opiate drug use - History of active depression and PTSD
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Data Source: ClinicalTrials.gov
Date Processed: July 21, 2010
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