Diagnostic value of serum cysteine leukotriene levels for obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome in children

Abstract

Objective To assess the clinical value of the measurement of cysteine leukotriene (CysLTs) concentration in serum as a diagnostic predictor to screen the obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) in children. Methods Serum CysLTs concentration was measured with ELISA kit in 75 patients with snoring before performing polysomnography (PSG). Subsequently, all the subjects underwent PSG test.Forty-one subjects were diagnosed as OSAHS, and 34 subjects didn't have OSAHS.These 34 non-OSAHS subjects were served as control group.Among the OSAHS group, 25 subjects were the Han nationality and 12 subjects were the Uyghur nationality.According to apnea hyponea index(AHI), the OSAHS group was divided into 3 groups, which were light, moderate and severe groups.And the serum CysLTs level of the OSAHS group was taken for correlation analysis with the sleep respiratory parameters.Compared with the PSG results, the clinical value of the measurement of CysLTs concentration in serum was taken as a diagnostic predictor to screen patients with OSAHS in children. Results 1.The serum CysLTs level of OSAHS group [(683.102±89.825) ng/L] was significantly higher than that in the control group [(461.985± 84.951) ng/L] (P<0.05). And it was correlated positively with AHI, longest apnea time, sleep apnea low aeration time (r=0.417, 0.422, 0.208, all P<0.05), but correlated negatively with the lowest oxygen saturation and the mean oxygen saturation (r=-0.192, -0.255, all P< 0.05).2.The serum CysLTs level [(773.118±92.015) ng/L] in severe OSAHS group was significantly higher than that in the moderate OSAHS group[(712.144±41.331) ng/L](P<0.05), and much more significantly higher than that in the light OSAHS group [(642.206±77.250) ng/L](P<0.05).3.When the serum CysLTs level was 560.872 ng/L, there was the best critical point with the highest sensitivity rate (92.7%) and specificity rate (94.1%), and the lowest misdiagnosis rate and the false dismissal rate, as diagnose accordance rate was 93.3%.4.The serum CysLTs level of Han [(704.417±77.149) ng/L] was higher than that of Uygur [(628.053±105.443) ng/L], and there was significant difference between the 2 groups (P<0.05). Conclusions Serum CysLTs level is closely related with the severity of OSAHS.There is difference in serum CysLTs level between different nationalities.The serum CysLTs level of the Han nationality is higher than the Uygur nationality.The serum level of CysLTs may be used as a predictor in screening OSAHS children and a biological marker of the severity of OSAHS children. Key words: Sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome, obstructive; Serum cysteine leukotriene; Child