Additive effects of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and hypertension on inflammatory reaction

Both obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and hypertension are risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. New study showed that arteriosclerosis in OSAS patients with hypertension (HT) is much severe than those patients with only HT or only OSAS. We assume that inflammatory reaction is involved in the pathogenesis in aggravation of arteriosclerosis of OSAS patients with HT. Based on apnea hypopnea index (AHI), 118 persons were divided into four groups: OSAS+HT group (n=58), HT group(n=20), OSAS group (n=20) and control group (n=20). Full polysomnography (PSG) monitoring was performed in all the patients. The serum level of IL-6(interleukin-6), sCD40L, hsCRP (high-sensitivity C-reactive protein), sICAM-1 (soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1), and VCAM-1 (vascular cell adhesion molecule-1) were detected by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). The serum level of IL-6, sCD40L, hsCRP, sICAM-1, VCAM-1 of the OSAS+HT group was higher than that of the OSAS, HT and the control group (P < 0.05). The serum level of the above-mentioned inflammatory factors of OSAS or HT groups was higher than those of the control group. The serum level of hsCRP, sICAM-1, and VCAM-1 was positively related with AHI and the degree of oxygen desaturation. Inflammatory reaction participate in the pathogenesis of hypertension and OSAS. Inflammatory reaction was aggravated in hypertension patients with OSAS.