title: Elevated fractalkine in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) has been increasingly linked to cardiovascular disease. Inflammatory processes associated with OSAHS may contribute to atherosclerosis in these patients. Fractalkine is a unique chemokine which has both adhesive and chemoattractant functions. We tested the hypothesis that OSAHS patients have increased fractalkine.
  
  
  RESULTS
  We studied 20 patients (18 males and 2 females) with newly diagnosed OSAHS, who were free of other diseases, had never been treated for OSAHS, and were taking no medications. We compared fractalkine measurements in these patients to measurements obtained in 15 control subjects (14 males and 1 female) who were matched for age and body mass index, and in whom occult OSAHS was excluded. Plasma fractalkine levels were significantly higher in patients with OSAHS than in controls (463.15 ± 110.78 versus 364.67 ± 64.81 pg/mL, F = 2.58, P = 0.004). Fractalkine were associated with AHI (r = 0.756, P < 0.0001), lowest oxygen saturation (r = -0.466, P = 0.005), and mean oxygen saturation (r = -0.344, P = 0.043). Plasma fractalkine levels were significantly decreased in patients with OSAHS after four nights nCPAP (463.15 ± 110.78 versus 416.75 ± 97.67 pg/mL, P = 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OSAHS is associated with elevated levels of fractalkine, a marker of inflammation related to atherosclerosis. The severity of OSAHS is proportional to the fractalkine level.
authors.affiliation: Department of Geriatrics, The Second Xiangya Hospital of Central South University, Changsha, Hunan, People's Republic of China.
authors.forename: Yina
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Yayong
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ping
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Yingquan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Luo
authors.forename: Yue
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Yang
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D054428:Chemokine CX3CL1 / Q000097:blood*; D045422:Continuous Positive Airway Pressure / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D012307:Risk Factors; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D013813:Therapy, Computer-Assisted / Q000295:instrumentation; D016896:Treatment Outcome
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D054428:Chemokine CX3CL1