Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Atherosclerosis

Abstract

Atherosclerosis is a progressive, chronic disease of large arteries in which various stages of vascular remodeling finally lead to significant narrowing of the vessel lumen. In the early phase of atherosclerosis, cholesterol particles are incorporated into the vascular wall (i.e., foam cell formation, development of fatty streaks). Later, plaques occur that are prone to rupture with consecutive thrombosis and complete vessel occlusion. In this case, acute clinical syndromes such as myocardial infarction may result. Atherosclerosis is viewed as an inflammatory process in which circulating leukocytes are attached to the endothelium, penetrate into the subendothelial space, and release a wide spectrum of cytokines. Known risk factors for atherosclerosis are, for instance, smoking, diabetes mellitus, and hyperlipidemia.