Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome Induced by Testosterone Administration

Abstract

The obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is a recently described clinical disorder that results from repetitive episodes of upper-airway occlusion during sleep.¹ Since the syndrome occurs much more frequently in males than females,² it is reasonable to postulate that androgens may be important in its cause. We describe below a man in whom both the symptoms and laboratory features of the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome developed on two separate occasions in association with the administration of exogenous testosterone. The symptoms and findings remitted each time that testosterone was discontinued. These observations suggest that testosterone has a causal role in the sleep . . .