title: Correlation between pentraxin-3 and endothelial dysfunction in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Recent studies showed endothelial dysfunction and pentraxin-3 both of an early marker for development of cardiovascular disease. The aim of the study was to evaluate the relationship between severity of OSAS and endothelial dysfunction and inflammatory markers including pentraxin-3 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP).
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study in which patients who had undergone a polysomnographic study for diagnosis of OSAS were recruited. Included patients were grouped according to apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) as mild (AHI between 5 and 14.9) and moderate-severe OSAS (AHI ⩾ 15). Patients with AHI < 5 served as control group. Endothelial function was evaluated by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD). Serum pentraxin-3 and hs-CRP levels were measured.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Eighty-three patients enrolled for the study. We found a significant increment in pentraxin-3 and hs-CRP levels and a significant decrement in FMD as the severity of OSAS increased. There was a negative correlation between FMD and AHI, pentraxin, and hs-CRP.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  OSAS patients have significantly elevated pentraxin-3 levels and endothelial dysfunction. Furthermore, both pentraxin-3 and endothelial dysfunction were independently associated with severity of OSAS defined by AHI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Istanbul Medeniyet University, School of Medicine, Istanbul, Turkey.
authors.forename: Asiye
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kanbay
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erciyes University, School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Elif
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erciyes University, School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Hakan
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Büyükoğlan
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Erciyes University, School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Mehmet Güngör
authors.initials: MG
authors.lastname: Kaya
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erciyes University, School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Zuhal Özer
authors.initials: ZÖ
authors.lastname: Şimşek
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erciyes University, School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Nuri
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Tutar
authors.affiliation: Department of Pulmonary Medicine, Erciyes University, School of Medicine, Kayseri, Turkey.
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Demir
keywords: Endothelial dysfunction; flow-mediated dilatation; hs-CRP; obstructive sleep apnea; pentraxin-3