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Relationship between hepcidin levels and periodic limb movement disorder in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

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Abstract

Purpose

This study was aimed to assess potential correlations between periodic leg movement (PLM) index, hepcidin levels, and iron status in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

Methods

Forty-four newly diagnosed OSAS patients and 49 non-apneic controls were enrolled in this study. All patients underwent polysomnographic evaluation. The hepcidin, iron, ferritin, total iron binding capacity, and C-reactive protein levels were measured.

Results

The mean age was 47.4 ± 7.2 years (18–68) in the OSAS group and 44.9 ± 11.1 years (23–65) in the control group. There were no differences in age, gender, and smoking between OSAS patients and controls. Mean apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) was 25.1 events/h. Mean serum hepcidin levels were significantly higher in OSAS subjects (725.9 ng/ml) than in control subjects (646.0 ng/ml) (p < 0.001). Serum iron levels were significantly lower in the OSAS and PLM disorder groups than in control subjects (p < 0.001). Serum hepcidin levels were significantly correlated with AHI (r = 0.453) and PLM index (r = 0.114). Serum iron levels were significantly negatively correlated with AHI (r = −0.169) and PLM index (r = −0.180).

Conclusions

In our study, the level of hepcidin was increased in patients with OSAS. Our study indicates that levels of hepcidin correlate with the AHI and PLM index severity of OSAS.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Chest Diseases, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    Ozlem Abakay, Abdurrahman Abakay, Hadice Selimoglu Sen & Abdullah Cetin Tanrikulu

  2. Department of Public Health, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    Yilmaz Palanci

  3. Department of Biochemistry, Medical Faculty, Dicle University, Diyarbakir, Turkey

    Hatice Yuksel & Osman Evliyaoglu

Authors
  1. Ozlem Abakay
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  2. Abdurrahman Abakay
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  3. Yilmaz Palanci
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  4. Hatice Yuksel
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  5. Hadice Selimoglu Sen
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  6. Osman Evliyaoglu
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  7. Abdullah Cetin Tanrikulu
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Correspondence to Abdurrahman Abakay.

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Abakay, O., Abakay, A., Palanci, Y. et al. Relationship between hepcidin levels and periodic limb movement disorder in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome. Sleep Breath 19, 459–466 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-014-1028-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-014-1028-3

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