Impaired circadian variation of platelet activity in patients with sleep apnea

• Published in: Sleep & breathing Vol. 16; no. 2; pp. 355 - 360
• Main Authors: Barceló, Antonia, Piérola, Javier, de la Peña, Mónica, Frontera, Guillem, Yañez, Aina, Alonso-Fernández, Alberto, Ayllon, Olga, Agusti, Alvar G. N.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Berlin/Heidelberg Springer-Verlag 01.06.2012; Springer; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Blood Platelets - physiology; Circadian rhythm; Circadian Rhythm - physiology; Continuous Positive Airway Pressure; Dentistry; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence - blood; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence - diagnosis; Disorders of Excessive Somnolence - therapy; Disorders of higher nervous function. Focal brain diseases. Central vestibular syndrome and deafness. Brain stem syndromes; Flow Cytometry; Follow-Up Studies; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Internal Medicine; Male; Medical sciences; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Multiple sclerosis and variants. Guillain barré syndrome and other inflammatory polyneuropathies. Leukoencephalitis; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Neurology; Original Article; Otorhinolaryngology; Patients; Pediatrics; Platelet Activation - physiology; Pneumology/Respiratory System; Polysomnography; Reference Values; Sleep apnea; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - blood; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - diagnosis; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - therapy; Sleep. Vigilance; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs; Cardiovascular diseases; Platelet activity; Sleep apnea; Human; Nervous system diseases; Sleep apnea syndrome; Respiratory disease; Sleep disorder; Cardiovascular disease; Biological rhythm; Circadian rhythm; Platelet; Sleep; Sleep wake cycle; Neurological disorder
• ISSN: 1520-9512; 1522-1709
• DOI: 10.1007/s11325-011-0501-5

Background Cardiovascular diseases are frequent in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS). There is evidence that the day–night pattern of myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death observed in the general population is altered in patients with OSAS. This study investigates potential abnormalities in the circadian profiles of platelet activity in OSAS. Methods We studied 37 patients with OSAS [7 of whom were also studied after 3 months on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment] and 11 controls. In each subject, we obtained six different blood samples during 24-h period (2200, 0200, 0600, 1000, 1400, and 1800 hours). Platelet activity was determined by flow cytometry immediately after sampling. Results We found that nocturnal platelet activity was significantly increased in patients with OSAS ( p  = 0.043) and that effective treatment with CPAP decreased platelet activity in these patients but differences just failed to reach statistical significance ( p  = 0.063). Conclusions OSAS is associated with increased platelet activity during the night, and that this appears to be improved by chronic use of CPAP. These results may contribute to explain the high prevalence of cardiovascular events during sleep in OSAS.