The changes of serum interleukin -6 in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

Objective To observe the changes of interleurin-6(IL-6) level in OSAHS patients.Methods Venous blood was collected at 6AM from 65 patients with OSAHS and 40 simple snorers following a full night polysomnography(PSG) test.PSG and serum IL-6 testing were conducted after nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) treatment in 32 cases OSAHS patients for 2 months and 33 cases without nCPAP.Results Serum IL-6 level in patients with OSAHS was significantly higher than that of the simple snorers (P 0.05 ),Regression analysis revealed that IL-6 level was significantly correlated with BMI,AHI,percentage of time spent when SaO_290 during the whole night sleep and Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) (P 0.05 ) in OSAHS patients.In addition,after two months of nCPAP therapy,levels of IL-6 was significantly decreased in OSAHS grouip (P 0.01 ).Conclusions Serum IL-6 level insrease in patients with OSAHS.It is suggested that elevated level of IL-6 might play an important role in the development of coronary heart disease and glucose metabolic disorder in patients with OSAHS,and nCPAP therapy could induce the decrease of IL-6 level,therefore may be decreased the risk of such morbidities.