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Lack of association between objectively assessed sleep disorders and inflammatory markers among kidney transplant recipients

  • Nephrology - Original Paper
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Abstract

Purpose

In patients on dialysis, the results of studies examining the association between sleep disorders and inflammation are controversial. We assessed the association between inflammatory markers and different sleep disorders in a large sample of kidney transplant recipients.

Methods

Cross-sectional study of 100 randomly selected kidney transplant patients who underwent one-night polysomnography (“sleep disorders evaluation in patients after kidney transplantation study”) to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and periodic limb movements in sleep (PLMS). Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) was utilized to assess the prevalence of insomnia. Sociodemographic information and data about medication, comorbidity and laboratory parameters were collected. Levels of inflammatory markers, such as C-reactive protein, serum albumin, white blood cell count, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), were measured.

Results

The mean age was 51 ± 13 years, 43% were women, and the prevalence of diabetes was 19%. We found no significant difference in the levels of inflammatory markers between patients with versus without OSA and PLMS. Apnea–hypopnea index showed a significant association with white blood cell count (ρ = 0.23), and weak (ρ < |0.15|), non-significant correlation with the other inflammatory markers. PLM index showed weak (ρ < |0.15|), non-significant correlation with all markers of inflammation. The serum IL-6 level was significantly higher in patients with insomnia (AIS ≥ 10) than in non-insomniacs [median (IQR): 3.2(2.6–5.1) vs. 1.7(1.2–2.9) ng/l; P = 0.009]. The levels of other inflammatory markers were similar between insomniacs and non-insomniacs.

Conclusions

We did not find any association between the presence of objectively assessed sleep disorders and inflammatory markers in kidney transplant patients.

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Acknowledgments

The authors thank the patients and the staff in the Department of Transplantation and Surgery, Semmelweis University, Budapest. MZM received grants from the National Developmental Agency (KTIA-OTKA-EU 7KP-HUMAN-MB08-A-81231) from the Research and Technological Innovation Fund and was also supported by Hungarian Kidney Foundation. This study was supported by the Hungarian Kidney Foundation, Hungarian Society of Hypertension, Hungarian Society of Nephrology and the Foundation for Prevention in Medicine. This paper was also supported by the János Bolyai Research Scholarship of the Hungarian Academy of Sciences (Marta Novak and Miklos Zsolt Molnar). Katalin Fornadi is recipient of the Hungarian Eötvös Scholarship. The research of M. Novak has been supported by an unrestricted research grant from Canadian Home Healthcare Inc., and the Center for Integrative Mood Research, Toronto, Canada.

Conflict of interest

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Behavioural Sciences, Semmelweis University, Nagyvarad ter 4, XX. Floor, 1089, Budapest, Hungary

    Katalin Fornadi, Anett Lindner, Maria E. Czira, Andras Szentkiralyi, Alpar S. Lazar, Rezso Zoller, Csilla Z. Turanyi, Orsolya Veber, Marta Novak, Istvan Mucsi & Miklos Z. Molnar

  2. Department of Neurology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

    Katalin Fornadi & Anett Lindner

  3. Institute of Epidemiology and Social Medicine, University of Muenster, Muenster, Germany

    Andras Szentkiralyi

  4. Department of Psychiatry, University Health Network, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada

    Marta Novak

  5. Institute of Pathophysiology, Semmelweis University, Budapest, Hungary

    Istvan Mucsi & Miklos Z. Molnar

  6. Department of Medicine, Division of Nephrology, McGill University Health Centre, Montreal, QC, Canada

    Istvan Mucsi

  7. Harold Simmons Center for Chronic Disease Research and Epidemiology, Los Angeles Biomedical Research Institute at Harbor-UCLA Medical Center, Torrance, CA, USA

    Miklos Z. Molnar

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  1. Katalin Fornadi
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  2. Anett Lindner
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  3. Maria E. Czira
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  4. Andras Szentkiralyi
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  7. Csilla Z. Turanyi
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  8. Orsolya Veber
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  9. Marta Novak
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  10. Istvan Mucsi
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  11. Miklos Z. Molnar
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Miklos Z. Molnar.

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Fornadi, K., Lindner, A., Czira, M.E. et al. Lack of association between objectively assessed sleep disorders and inflammatory markers among kidney transplant recipients. Int Urol Nephrol 44, 607–617 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-011-0095-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11255-011-0095-7

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