Cardiovascular (CV) diseases are a leading
cause of mortality and they are frequent in patients with the
obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). Objectives: In
this study we investigated if OSAS influences CV function
independently of other CV risk factors frequently present in
these patients (e.g. obesity, high blood pressure). Methods:
We compared plasma markers of endothelial dysfunction,
asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) and endothelin-1 (ET-
1), and atherosclerosis progression (soluble fraction of the
CD40 ligand, sCD40L) in OSAS patients with (n = 23) and
without (n = 18) concurrent CV risk factors, as well as in
healthy subjects (n = 23). Results: Plasma ADMA (p ! 0.01)
and sCD40L (p ! 0.05) were abnormally increased in patients
with OSAS versus healthy controls, but they were not influenced
by the presence or absence of CV risk factors in OSAS.
ET-1 levels were not different between the three groups of
subjects studied. Conclusions: OSAS is associated with endothelial
injury and atherosclerosis progression independently
of other CV risk factors.
