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Obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, and inflammation—is NF-κB the key?

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Abstract

Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) affects a large portion of the population and is associated with repeated airway collapse leading to chronic intermittent hypoxia, exaggerated swings in intrathoracic pressure and post apneic arousal. OSA is associated with heightened sympathoadrenal tone and is a risk factor for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. In addition to well-known mechanical and autonomic effects, OSA appears to be associated with systemic inflammation. This could provide one mechanism leading to cardiovascular disease (CVD). A central factor in the inflammatory cascade is nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB), which is involved in the transcription of numerous genes involved in the inflammatory cascade. The object of this article is to review recent literature on some of the aspects of OSA related to a proinflammatory state and the possible role of NF-κB as one mechanism providing a link between sleep apnea and CVD.

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  1. Critical Care Medicine Department, Clinical Center, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Antoinette Williams

  2. Sleep Disorders Center, Division of Pulmonary and Critical Care Medicine, University of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, USA

    Steven M. Scharf

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Correspondence to Steven M. Scharf.

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Williams, A., Scharf, S.M. Obstructive sleep apnea, cardiovascular disease, and inflammation—is NF-κB the key?. Sleep Breath 11, 69–76 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-007-0106-1

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