Correlation between inflammatory markers of atherosclerosis and carotid intima-media thickness in Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) is a sleep-related breathing disorder associated with the development of cardiovascular diseases and atherosclerosis. Systemic inflammation plays an important role in the development of cardiovascular complications in OSA patients. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) and inflammatory markers plasma levels in OSA patients. We enrolled 80 OSA patients and 40 controls matched for age and body mass index (BMI). The presence and severity of sleep apnea was determined by in-laboratory portable monitoring (PM). Demographic data, blood pressure, heart rate, and cIMT were measured. High-sensitive C-Reactive Protein (hsCRP), interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-α and pentraxin (PTX)-3 serum concentrations were detected. cIMT was higher in OSA patients than controls (0.89 ± 0.13 mm vs. 0.65 ± 0.1 mm, p < 0.01). Moderate-severe OSA patients (0.95 ± 0.09 mm) had significantly increased cIMT than mild OSA (0.76 ± 0.1 mm; p < 0.01) and control (0.65 ± 0.1 mm; p < 0.01). hsCRP, IL-6, TNF-α, and PTX-3 in patients with OSA (1.67 ± 0.66 mg/L, 2.86 ± 1.39 pg/mL, 20.09 ± 5.39 pg/mL, 2.1 ± 0.59 ng/mL, respectively) were significantly higher than in controls (1.08 ± 0.53 mg/L, p < 0.01; 1.5 ± 0.67 pg/mL, p < 0.01; 12.53 ± 3.48 pg/mL, p < 0.01; 1.45 ± 0.41 ng/mL, p < 0.01, respectively). Carotid IMT was significantly correlated to CRP (r = 0.44; p < 0.01), IL-6 (r = 0.42; p < 0.01), TNF-α (r = 0.53; p < 0.01), and PTX-3 (r = 0.49; p < 0.01). OSA patients showed increased cIMT, CRP, IL-6, TNF-α, and PTX-3 levels. Inflammatory markers levels are correlated to cIMT in OSA patients.
Cardiovascular Diseases Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari, Bari 70124, Italy. marcomatteo.ciccone@uniba.it.
Marco Matteo
MM
Ciccone
Cardiovascular Diseases Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari, Bari 70124, Italy. piero.sc@hotmail.it.
Pietro
P
Scicchitano
Cardiovascular Diseases Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari, Bari 70124, Italy. annapaolazito@yahoo.it.
Annapaola
A
Zito
Cardiovascular Diseases Section, Department of Emergency and Organ Transplantation (DETO), University of Bari, Bari 70124, Italy. francescacortese@hotmail.it.
Francesca
F
Cortese
Institute of Respiratory Disease, University of Bari, Bari 70124, Italy. b.boninfante@alice.it.
Barbara
B
Boninfante
Institute of Respiratory Disease, University of Bari, Bari 70124, Italy. iposoli9@gmail.com.
Vito Antonio
VA
Falcone
Institute of Respiratory Disease, University of Bari, Bari 70124, Italy. vitaliano40@libero.it.
Vitaliano Nicola
VN
Quaranta
Institute of Respiratory Disease, University of Bari, Bari 70124, Italy. valevent@libero.it.
Valentina Anna
VA
Ventura
Section of Clinical Pathology, University of Bari, Bari 70124, Italy. azucano@libero.it.
Antonietta
A
Zucano
Section of Clinical Pathology, University of Bari, Bari 70124, Italy. diseriofrancesca@tiscali.it.
Francesca
F
Di Serio
Institute of Respiratory Disease, University of Bari, Bari 70124, Italy. mariodmn84@hotmail.com.
Mario Francesco
MF
Damiani
Institute of Respiratory Disease, University of Bari, Bari 70124, Italy. onofrio.resta@uniba.it.
Onofrio
O
Resta
D000328:Adult; D050197:Atherosclerosis / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism*; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component / Q000378:metabolism; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000473:pathology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood; D000099153:Pentraxins
D015415:Biomarkers; D002097:C-Reactive Protein; D015850:Interleukin-6; D000683:Serum Amyloid P-Component; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D000099153:Pentraxins