title: Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome: a new paradigm by chronic nocturnal intermittent hypoxia and sleep disruption.
abstract: Obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with severe cerebro-cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. It is an independent risk factor for atherosclerosis, arterial thrombosis and metabolic syndrome, and recently has been associated with an increased incidence of cancer and death. A causal link between OSAS and atherosclerosis has been partially established. Recent research on atherosclerosis in OSAS has focused on thrombotic tendency and blood viscosity, providing new insight into disease mechanisms. Hypoxia is a critical pathophysiological element in OSAS that leads to intensive sympathetic activity, in association with inflammation, oxidative stress and procoagulant activity. Hypoxia and the induction of oxidative stress can simultaneously represent an underlying mechanism in the pathogenesis of cancer development and progression. This mini-review will discuss the latest findings on the association and potential relationship between OSA and pathological vascular sequelae.
authors.affiliation: "V. Fazzi" Hospital Rehabilitation Dept, Respiratory Care Unit, ASL Lecce, Italy;
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Toraldo
authors.affiliation: Laboratory of Human Anatomy and Neuroscience, Dept. of Biological and Environmental Sciences and Technologies, University of Salento, Lecce, Italy;
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: DE Nuccio
authors.affiliation: "V. Fazzi" Hospital, ENT Unit, ASL Lecce, Italy;
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: DE Benedetto
authors.affiliation: Institute of Clinical Physiology, National Research Council (CNR), Lecce, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Scoditti
mesh_terms: D035843:Biomedical Research; D002908:Chronic Disease; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000209:etiology*; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000209:etiology; D020181:Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / Q000150:complications*; D012893:Sleep Wake Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D019851:Thrombophilia / Q000209:etiology
keywords: Atherosclerosis; Cancer; Chronic intermittent hypoxia; Obstructive sleep apnoea; Sleep disruption