A study on the change in blood pre-adaptation factors among patients with obstructive sleep apneahypopnea syndrome / 中华全科医师杂志

ABSTRACT

Objective To investigate the changes in serum level of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), nitric oxide (NO), erythropoietin (EPO) and plasma level of carbon monoxide (CO) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) and their clinical significance. Methods Sixty-four patients diagnosed as OSAHS by polysomnography (PSG), were divided into two groups according to apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), 20 in mild group [5/h≤AHI≤20/h, with a mean of (12± 5)/hi and 44 in moderate-severe group[AHI > 20/h, with a mean of (63±23)/h]. Blood samples were obtained from all the patients after PSG for measurement of levels of serum VEGF, NO and EPO and plasma CO. Results Levels of serum VEGF [(101±91) ng/L], NO [(10.3±3.3) μmol/L]and plasma CO [(0.56±0. 35) mg/L]in moderate-severe OSAHS group were significantly higher than those in mild group (all P <0.05). There was no significantly difference in serum level of EPO between the two groups (P> 0.05). Levels of serum VEGF, NO and plasma CO in OSAHS patients positively correlated with AHI and percentage of time with percutaneous arterial blood oxygen saturation lower than 0. 9 (SLT90) of all sleep time (all P < 0. 05), but reversely correlated with the lowest arterial blood oxygen saturation (LSaO2) at night (P>0.05). No correlation between EPO and all the indicators was found (P>0.05). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that LSaO2 was an independent risk factor to affect levels of serum VEGF and plasma CO (R2=0.198, P=0.001, and R2=0.210, P=0.000, respectively) and SLT90 was an independent risk factor to affect serum level of NO (R2= 0. 148, P=0.004) in OSAHS patients. Conclusion Hypoxia at night is a main cause leading to increased level of serum VEGF, NO and plasma CO in OSAHS patients.