title: Effects of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome on serum aminotransferase levels in obese patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obesity has been associated with obstructive sleep apnea and hepatic steatosis. We investigated the effects of obstructive sleep apnea and treatment with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) on serum aminotransferase levels in obese patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 40 obese men with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. None had hepatitis B antigen or C antibody, autoimmune disease, or an excessive intake of alcohol. Serum levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, triglyceride, glucose, insulin, and leptin were determined in the afternoon and in the morning immediately after sleep, before and after nasal CPAP treatment.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Aminotransferase levels were abnormal in 35% (n = 14) of patients. Before treatment, mean (+/- SD) aspartate aminotransferase levels were higher in the morning than in the previous afternoon (presleep, 34 +/- 20 IU/L; postsleep, 39 +/- 28 IU/L; P = 0.006). The overnight mean increases in aminotransferase levels were less marked after the first night of nasal CPAP treatment (aspartate aminotransferase: from 6 +/- 11 IU/L to 2 +/- 6 IU/L, P = 0.0003; alanine aminotransferase: from 5 +/- 9 IU/L to 2 +/- 6 IU/L, P = 0.006). Leptin levels (n = 23) decreased significantly after treatment (P = 0.0002), whereas insulin resistance (calculated by the homeostasis model assessment method) and triglyceride levels were unchanged. Improvements in aspartate and alanine aminotransferase levels were maintained after 1 and 6 months of nasal CPAP treatment.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Nasal CPAP therapy may have beneficial effects on serum aminotransferase abnormalities in obese patients who have obstructive sleep apnea.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physical Therapeutics, Kyoto University Hospital, Kyoto, Japan. chink@kuhp.kyoto-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Kazuo
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Chin
authors.forename: Takaya
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
authors.forename: Kenichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Takahashi
authors.forename: Kensuke
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sumi
authors.forename: Yoshihiro
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Hiroaki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Masuzaki
authors.forename: Shigeo
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Muro
authors.forename: Noboru
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Hattori
authors.forename: Hisako
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Akio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Niimi
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Chiba
authors.forename: Kazuwa
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Nakao
authors.forename: Michiaki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mishima
authors.forename: Motoharu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ohi
authors.forename: Takashi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Nakamura
mesh_terms: D000410:Alanine Transaminase / Q000097:blood*; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases / Q000097:blood*; D005234:Fatty Liver / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007328:Insulin / Q000097:blood; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications* / Q000201:enzymology*; D011175:Positive-Pressure Respiration; D012307:Risk Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications* / Q000628:therapy; D013997:Time Factors; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D007328:Insulin; D020738:Leptin; D014280:Triglycerides; D001219:Aspartate Aminotransferases; D000410:Alanine Transaminase