Carotid artery wall thickness in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
OBJECTIVE
Epidemiological studies have suggested a pathophysiological link between sleep apnea syndrome and cerebrovascular diseases. The mechanism by which sleep disturbance can affect the predisposition to developing stroke is not clear. The aim of this study was to investigate whether patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome have an increase in atherosclerosis indicators at the carotid artery level.


METHODS
We included 23 male patients with severe obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (respiratory disturbance index >30). Intima-media thickness and the presence of steno-occlusive lesions in the common carotid arteries were investigated with B-mode high-resolution ultrasonography. Results of the ultrasonographic examination were compared with those of a group of 23 subjects without obstructive sleep apnea syndrome who were matched for age and comorbid factors.


RESULTS
The intima-media thickness of the common carotid arteries of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome was significantly higher (P<0.0001) than that of control subjects (1.429+/-0.34 versus 0.976+/-0.17 mm).


CONCLUSIONS
Results of the present study show that carotid wall thickness is increased in patients with severe sleep apnea syndrome. There is strong evidence that an increase in the thickness of the carotid artery wall is a valid marker of the risk of stroke. For this reason, our finding seems to further strengthen the hypothesis that patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome are at risk of developing cerebrovascular diseases regardless of the association with other vascular risk factors.
Silvestrini
Mauro
M
Neurological Clinic, University of Ancona, Italy. masilvestrini@ libero.it
Rizzato
Barbara
B
Placidi
Fabio
F
Baruffaldi
Roberto
R
Bianconi
Alberto
A
Diomedi
Marina
M
D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D004198:Disease Susceptibility; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010092:Oximetry; D017286:Polysomnography; D011187:Posture; D012307:Risk Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis*; D018615:Ultrasonography, Doppler, Color