Long-term oxygen administration reduces plasma adrenomedullin levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome.

摘要

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is recognized as one of the risk factors of hypertension and cardiovascular disorders. In the current study, we hypothesized that the hypoxic stress caused by obstructive sleep apnea would increase circulating adrenomedullin (ADM) levels in untreated OSAS patients compared to an age-matched control group. We further hypothesized that oxygen administration treatment may decrease OSAS-induced hypoxic stress and ADM levels. METHODS: We examined short-term and long-term oxygen administration effects on circulating ADM in 48 OSAS patients. RESULTS: The circulating levels of ADM in untreated OSAS patients were significantly greater than those in the controls. We did not observe a significant effect in 2 weeks of oxygen administration on the circulating ADM in the patients, but we observed a significant effect in long-term oxygen administration for more than 3 months on plasma ADM levels. Long-term oxygen therapy decreased both the magnitude of arterial oxygen desaturation and plasma ADM levels in patients but did not decrease blood pressure. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that long-term oxygen therapy could reduce OSAS-induced nocturnal hypoxemia and plasma ADM levels in patients with OSAS.