Pathogenetic links between ischemic stroke and sleep-disordered breathing

Abstract

The paper reviews the pathophysiological links between ischemic stroke and sleep-disordered breathing. We discuss well-known mechanisms, such as intermittent hypoxemia, disturbed sleep structure and fluctuations in intrathoracic pressure, autonomic imbalance, oxidative stress, as well as genetic factors and the role of glymphatic system. The impact of sleep-disordered breathing on the development of various subtypes of stroke (according to the TOAST classification) and the so-called “wake-up stroke” is presented.