Circulating vascular endothelial growth factor levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
OBJECTIVE
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is associated with intermittent hypoxia during sleep. Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) has detectable levels in the circulation and its expression is highly regulated by oxygen tension. We therefore hypothesized that serum VEGF levels will be elevated in patients with OSA.


METHODS
Blood samples were collected at random times during the day from 68 adults and 41 children who were clinically suspected for the presence of OSA, and who underwent overnight polysomnography.


METHODS
University hospital sleep laboratory.


METHODS
N/A.


METHODS
N/A.


RESULTS
For both children and adults, serum VEGF levels were significantly higher in polysomnographically confirmed OSA (AHI>15 and AI>5 in adults and children respectively) when compared to those with mild or no disease (p<0.0001). Furthermore, significant correlations were found between VEGF concentrations and respiratory disturbance index and sleep time spent at SpO2 <90%. In addition, VEGF levels in children were higher for any given duration of hypoxia during sleep (p<0.0001). No differences in VEGF emerged between evening and morning samples. However, temporal delays in blood sample processing were associated with spuriously increased VEGF concentrations. Exploratory analysis of the data revealed that serum VEGF concentrations of >150 pg/ml in adults and >100 pg/ml in children were predictive of OSA, when an apnea-hypopnea index >30 and an apnea index >5 were used as disease criteria in adults and children, respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
We conclude that circulating VEGF levels are frequently elevated in OSA patients, and may play a role in the regulation of tissue oxygen delivery.
Gozal
David
D
Division of Pediatric Sleep Medicine and Kosair Children's Hospital Research Institute, University of Louisville School of Medicine, KY 40202, USA. david.gozal@louisville.edu
Lipton
Andrew J
AJ
Jones
Kimberly L
KL
D015992:Body Mass Index; D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008222:Lymphokines / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry; D010100:Oxygen / Q000378:metabolism; D015995:Prevalence; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D012895:Sleep, REM / Q000502:physiology; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors
D016228:Endothelial Growth Factors; D008222:Lymphokines; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A; D042442:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factors; D010100:Oxygen