According to the latest issue of The Lancet, a class of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors called "sultiamide" can significantly reduce the number of respiratory pauses in patients with obstructive sleep apnea, thereby improving their sleep quality. This clinical study, involving the University of Gothenburg in Sweden, has brought new hope for the treatment of patients who cannot tolerate respiratory masks. Researchers say that if proven safe and effective in larger clinical trials in the future, sunitinib may become the first drug to treat sleep apnea. A total of 298 patients with moderate to severe sleep apnea were included in the study, with a quarter of patients receiving placebo and the remaining patients receiving different doses of sunitinib. The experiment was conducted in four European countries using a double-blind design, and both patients and researchers were unaware of who received the effective drug. The results showed that compared with patients taking placebo, patients taking high-dose sunitinib could reduce the number of respiratory interruptions by up to 47% and significantly improve blood oxygen levels. Researchers point out that the mechanism of action of sunitinib is to stabilize the control of the respiratory center and enhance respiratory drive, thereby reducing the risk of upper respiratory tract collapse during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea is a common sleep disorder. The collapse of the upper airway during sleep in patients can lead to respiratory arrest, hypoxia, and sleep interruption. If not treated for a long time, it will increase the risk of hypertension, cardiovascular disease, stroke and type 2 diabetes. At present, continuous positive airway pressure ventilation is the main treatment for this disease. Although the efficacy is significant, many patients find it difficult to adhere to long-term use. Research shows that up to half of patients abandon continuous positive airway pressure therapy within one year of use, due to reasons such as discomfort with the mask or interference with sleep. Sultiamide is a drug approved for the treatment of childhood epilepsy. The research leader and professor of pulmonology at the Salgrunska School of Medicine at the University of Gothenburg, Jan Herdner, stated that the team has been exploring the treatment approach of this drug for many years, and the results show that sleep apnea can be improved through drug intervention. (New Society)