FLOW-MEDIATED DILATATION IDENTIFIES IMPAIRED ENDOTHELIAL FUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH SLEEP APNEA SYNDROME

[Original Article]

AKIOMI YOSHIHISA, TAKASHI OWADA, YASUTO HOSHINO, MAKIKO MIYATA, TOMOFUMI MISAKA, TAKAMASA SATO, SATOSHI SUZUKI, NOBUO SAKAMOTO, KOICHI SUGIMOTO, HIROYUKI KUNII, KAZUHIKO NAKAZATO, HITOSHI SUZUKI, SHU-ICHI SAITOH, TOSHIYUKI ISHIBASHI and YASUCHIKA TAKEISHI

Department of Cardiology and Hematology, Fukushima Medical University

(Received September 24, 2010, accepted November 9, 2010)

Abstract: [Background] Non-invasive detection of vascular dysfunction in the early stage is clinically important in patients with sleep apnea syndrome (SAS).　Flow-mediated dilatation (FMD) is a novel clinical marker of endothelial function.　However, it is not clear whether this is useful in the SAS patient.　[Methods] Echocardiographic parameters and FMD were measured in 129 patients with SAS.　Apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) was defined by polygraphy, and patients were divided into the two Groups: Group A (moderate-severe SAS: AHI≥15 times/hr, n=93) and Group B (mild SAS: AHI 5-15 times/hr, n=36).　[Results] There were no significant differences in echocardiographic parameters between the two groups.　However, FMD was significantly lower in Group A than in Group B (3.5±1.6 vs. 7.8±3.1, P<0.01).　[Conclusions] Although cardiac function was not different, vascular dysfunction was evident in patients with moderate-severe SAS.　FMD is a useful tool to identify impaired endothelial function non-invasively in patients with SAS.

Key words: sleep apnea syndrome, vascular function, endothelial function, flow-mediated dilatation

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Corresponding author: Akiomi Yoshihisa, M.D., Ph.D.
E-mail address: yoshihis@fmu.ac.jp
http: //www.jstage.jst.go.jp/browse/fms
http: //fmu.ac.jp/home/lib/F-igaku/

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