Collagen type analysis in the soft palate after surgical intervention with CO(2) laser and radiofrequency ablation.
OBJECTIVE
Snoring and apnea are social and medical problems that affect as many as 2% of adult women and 4% of adult men. This study compares collagen distribution and type with the intensity of snoring and the degree of drowsiness following uvulopalatoplasty with CO2 laser and radiofrequency ablation.


METHODS
Fragments were taken from the soft palate by biopsies of 16 uvulopalatoplasty patients and 5 controls, 5 weeks after surgery, and they were stained with Sirius red and observed with polarization microscopy. Photographs were taken, and the type and changes in the amount of collagen before and after surgery were compared.


RESULTS
A histological analysis 5 weeks postoperatively in 10 patients showed an increased amount of collagen and replacement of type III collagen with type I collagen.


CONCLUSIONS
The increase in the amount of collagen after uvulopalatoplasty was significantly larger in patients than in the controls, and all changes from type III to mostly type I collagen occurred in patients who had the surgery. The subjective improvement of both snoring and somnolence is associated with this increase in type I collagen.
Fomin
Denilson
D
Department of Otorhinolaryngology and Head and Neck Surgery, Faculty of Medicine of Ribeirão Preto, University of São Paulo, Brazil. adfomin@attglobal.net
Nicola
Esther
E
Oliver
Constance
C
Farci
Michel
M
Dibbern
Ralph
R
Jamur
Maria Célia
MC
de Oliveira
José Antonio
JA
D000328:Adult; D003094:Collagen / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D053685:Laser Therapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010160:Palate, Soft / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012891:Sleep Apnea Syndromes / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012913:Snoring / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D016896:Treatment Outcome
D003094:Collagen