Profile of circulating cytokines: impact of OSA, obesity and acute cardiovascular events.

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is inducing oxidative stress and consequently promotes systemic inflammation and cardiovascular morbidity. The respective impact of obesity, sleep apnea and acute cardiovascular events on the profile of inflammatory cytokines has not been extensively evaluated. We examined the profile of circulating cytokines in a case-control study comparing nonobese or obese patients with or without sleep apnea and with or without an acute cardiovascular event. Patients were assessed by sleep studies and inflammatory (hs-CRP, Leptin, RANTES, MCP1, IL6, IL8, TNF-α) and anti-inflammatory (adiponectin, IL1-Ra) cytokines profile. A cardiovascular phenotyping was performed including carotid intima-media thickness, pulse wave velocity and 24h blood pressure monitoring. In comparison with patients without sleep apnea or without comorbidities, patients with the combination of an acute cardiovascular event and pre-existing sleep apnea showed a higher burden of systemic inflammation with significant increase in serum levels of hs-CRP, IL1-Ra, IL-8, IL-6, TNF-α, Rantes and sICAM. Rantes and sICAM serum levels were independently associated with AHI after an acute cardiovascular event. Serum levels of different inflammatory markers were significantly increased in patients with the combination of sleep apnea and an acute cardiovascular event. Since these biomarkers could be associated with worsened cardiovascular outcome, diagnosing and treating associated sleep apnea is potentially important in patients after an acute cardiovascular event.