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Quantification of Circulating Cell-Free DNA in the Serum of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea–Hypopnea Syndrome

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Abstract

Serum cell-free DNA concentrations have been reported to increase in many acute diseases as well as in some chronic conditions such as cancer and autoimmune diseases. The aim of this study was to examine whether serum DNA concentrations were elevated in patients with obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS). The effects of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) on serum DNA were also investigated. One hundred twenty-seven people diagnosed with OSAHS by polysomnography (PSG) were admitted into the OSAHS group, and 52 subjects without OSAHS were recruited for the control group. The OSAHS group was further divided into mild, moderate, and severe OSAHS subgroups based on their apnea-hypopnea index (AHI) during sleep. Ten patients with moderate and severe OSAHS were treated with nCPAP. Serum DNA, interleukin-6 (IL-6), and malonaldehyde (MDA) concentrations were measured and were found to be significantly higher in patients with moderate and severe OSAHS groups than those in the mild OSAHS and control groups (p < 0.05). Univariate analysis showed that serum DNA correlated positively with AHI, oxygen desaturation index (ODI), IL-6, and MDA, and negatively correlated with minimal oxygen saturation (miniSaO2) (all p < 0.05). In stepwise multiple regression analysis, only MDA and miniSaO2 were suggested as significant independent predictors for the serum DNA concentrations. After 6 months of nCPAP therapy, serum concentrations of DNA, IL-6, and MDA were significantly decreased (p < 0.05). The increasing concentration of serum DNA in patients with OSAHS was positively correlated with disease severity. Serum DNA may become an important parameter for monitoring the severity of OSAHS and effectiveness of therapy.

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Abbreviations

AHI:

Apnea-hypopnea index

IL-6:

Interleukin-6

MDA:

Malonaldehyde

nCPAP:

Nasal continuous positive airway pressure

ODI:

Oxygen desaturation index

OSAHS:

Obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome

PSG:

Polysomnography

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Acknowledgments

We thankfully acknowledge the relentless efforts of the sleep laboratory personnel, technicians Mrs. Ni Jinhua, Mrs. Cao Bei, and Mrs. Chen Weizhen, who helped us collect reliable and meaningful information about our study subjects.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Respiratory Diseases, Ruijin Hospital, Shanghai Jiao Tong University School of Medicine, No.197, Ruijin Second Road, Shanghai, 200025, China

    Liang Ye, Guan-Hua Ma, Ling Chen, Min Li, Jia-Lin Liu, Kun Yang, Qing-Yun Li, Ning Li & Huan-Ying Wan

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  1. Liang Ye
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  2. Guan-Hua Ma
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  3. Ling Chen
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  4. Min Li
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Correspondence to Min Li.

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Ye, L., Ma, GH., Chen, L. et al. Quantification of Circulating Cell-Free DNA in the Serum of Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea–Hypopnea Syndrome. Lung 188, 469–474 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-010-9253-4

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00408-010-9253-4

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