Association among daytime sleepiness,serum tnlnor necrosis factor-α levels and microarousal in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

Abstract

Objective To investigate the association among daytime sleepiness,serum tumor necrosis factor(TNF)-α levels and microarousal in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS).Methods Forty male patients with OSAHS conformed by apnea hypopnea index(AHI)during sleep monitoring of polysomnography were selected as OSAHS group,15 healthy subjects were selected as control group.The level of serum TNF-α was measured by ELISA.The Epworth sleepiness(EP)scale was used in two groups.Results The level of serum TNF-α in OSAHS group[(18.42±6.23)ng/L]was significantly higher than that in control group[(9.75±3.12)ng/L],P＜0.01.The EP scale and micmarousal index were signifieand yhigher in OSAHS group than those in control group[(16.9±4.7)acores vs(4.5±2.3)dcores,(33.6±16.9)times/h vs(11.3±7.3)times/h,P＜0.01].The EP scale in OSAHS group was positively correlated with the levels of serum TNF-α(r=0.461,P＜0.01),AHI(r=0.443,P＜0.01)and microarousal index(r=0.751,P＜0.01)respectively.The levels of serum'INF-α in patients with OSAHS were also positively correlated with microarousal index(r=0.373,P＜0.01).Conclusions The levels of serum TNF-α and mieroarousal index are increased in patients with 0SAHS.The microarousal related to OSAHS plays an important role on the daytime sleepiness,the unusual levels of serum TNF-α maybe lead to interferen of sleepiness. Key words: Sleep apnea,obstructive; Lethargy; Tumor necrosis factor-alpha; Microarousal index