Effect of continuous positive airway pressure therapy on inflammatory cytokines and atherosclerosis in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is known to be a risk factor for atherosclerosis (AS), derived from a series of chronic inflammatory reactions caused by hypoxia. However, the association between chronic inflammation and high blood pressure caused by hypoxia remains to be fully elucidated. The aim of the present study was to investigate the effect of continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy on inflammatory cytokines and AS. A total of 100 patients with OSAS and 50 healthy control subjects were enrolled. Fresh venous blood samples were collected prior to and following a 3-months period of CPAP treatment. The inflammatory factors, interleukin (IL)-18 and tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha, C-reactive protein (CRP), intercellular cell adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1), vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1), E-selectin and P-selectin, were detected using standard enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay kits. Intima-media thickness (IMT), brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (Ba-PWV), apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) and transcutaneous oxygen saturation (SpO(2)) were also detected to compare differences prior to and following treatment. The results showed that, compared with the pre-treatment data, the expression levels of IL-8, TNF-alpha, CRP, ICAM-1, VCAM-1, E-selectin and P-selectin were significantly decreased following treatment (P < 0.05). The AHI, IMT, blood pressure and Ba-PWV values were significantly decreased (P < 0.05), and the SpO(2) was increased (P < 0.05). Taken together, by comparing the pre- and post-intervention data, it was confirmed that inflammatory factors were involved in the process of AS in patients with OSAS. Following CPAP treatment, blood pressure and primary indicators in the patients improved.