Biological Effects of OSAHS Surgery on Endothelial Dysfunction and Oxidative Stress

Abstract

Objectives:

Prospectively study the changes of biomarkers related to cardio- or cerebro-vascular diseases in patients with obstructive sleep apnea/hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) before and after OSAHS surgery.

Methods:

Patients who failed continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy and then underwent OSAHS surgery were enrolled in this study. We assessed serum biomarkers of metabolic status, oxidative/antioxidative balance and sICAM-1, sVCAM-1, sE-selectin, sL-selectin and sP-selectin preoperatively and postoperatively at 6 month follow-up.

Results:

Eighty OSAHS patients (mean, 45 years) completed data for analysis. When both mild/moderate and severe OSAHS patients were considered, the level of triglyceride, sICAM-1, and sE-selectin were significantly decreased 6 months following surgery, while body mass index did not show significant decrease. Most biomarkers on endothelium dysfunction (sICAM-1 in mild/moderate and severe OSAHS patients, sL-selectin in mild/moderate group, and sE-selectin in severe group) showed a decrease 6 months following surgery. There is a trend of decrease changes on level of TBARS and increased level of superoxide dismutase 6 months after surgery.; However, the difference is not significant.

Conclusions:

This study shows that surgical treatment could improve some of the biomarkers of metabolic status, oxidative/antioxidative balance, and inflammatory cell adhesion molecules in OSAHS patients. The successful translation of these approaches may offer the promise of reducing the cardiovascular risks associated with OSAHS patients undergoing upper airway surgery.