title: Abnormal cytokine profile in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome and erectile dysfunction.
abstract: Patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) show a high prevalence of erectile dysfunction (ED). Although the underlying pathogenesis is still unknown, endothelial dysfunction, induced by inflammatory cytokines, chemokines, and adhesion molecules, has been proposed as a possible mechanism. The aim of this study was to assess whether OSAHS is associated with activation of the inflammatory cytokine system in patients with ED compared to the matched OSAHS patients with normal sexual function. Thirty-one patients with severe OSAHS and ED were included. Fifteen patients with severe OSAHS and without ED served as controls. Serum concentrations of high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-a), interleukin-6 (IL-6), interleukin-8 (IL-8), and adiponectin were measured after the diagnostic polysomnography. We found that hsCRP levels were significantly elevated in OSAHS patients with ED compared to controls. Similarly, TNF-a levels, IL-6, and IL-8 were elevated in OSAHS patients with ED compared to controls. Serum adiponectin levels were lower in OSAHS-ED patients, but the difference did not reach statistical significance. The presence of ED in patients with severe OSAHS is associated with elevated levels of inflammatory markers, underlining a possible involvement of endothelial dysfunction in the pathogenesis of ED.
authors: Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Thoracic Medicine, University of Crete, 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors: Izolde
authors: I
authors: Bouloukaki
authors: Department of Urology, University of Crete, 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors: Vaios
authors: V
authors: Papadimitriou
authors: Department of Urology, University of Crete, 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors: Frank
authors: F
authors: Sofras
authors: Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Thoracic Medicine, University of Crete, 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors: Charalampos
authors: C
authors: Mermigkis
authors: Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Thoracic Medicine, University of Crete, 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors: Violeta
authors: V
authors: Moniaki
authors: Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Thoracic Medicine, University of Crete, 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors: Nikolaos M
authors: NM
authors: Siafakas
authors: Sleep Disorders Center, Department of Thoracic Medicine, University of Crete, 711 10 Heraklion, Crete, Greece.
authors: Sophia E
authors: SE
authors: Schiza
mesh_terms: D052242:Adiponectin / Q000097:blood; D000328:Adult; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism; D016207:Cytokines / Q000097:blood*; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation; D015850:Interleukin-6 / Q000097:blood; D016209:Interleukin-8 / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017286:Polysomnography; D011446:Prospective Studies; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood
chemical_list: D052242:Adiponectin; D016207:Cytokines; D015850:Interleukin-6; D016209:Interleukin-8; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein