Comparison of plasma stromal derived factor-1 alpha levels of patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome to people with simple snoring

We aimed to evaluate the Stromal derived factor-1 alpha (SDF-1 α) levels that may be an indicator for impaired endothelial function in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) and compare the results with those of controls who were diagnosed with simple snoring. In the presence of an elevation in SDF-1 α levels in patients with OSAS we also aimed to investigate whether or not a decrease could be managed after treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP). Twenty-six patients with a diagnosis of OSAS and 15 controls with a diagnosis of simple snoring were included. The patients and controls included in the study had whole-night polysomnography in the sleep laboratory. SDF-1 α levels of the two groups were measured after 8 h of fasting. The SDF-1 α levels of seven patients who continued CPAP treatment were measured again 2 months later. There was a statistical difference between the two compared groups according to basal SDF-1 α levels ( P = 0.003). A statistical significance was found between the original basal levels and the levels after 2 months of treatment ( P = 0.018) in the CPAP group. Measuring the plasma SDF-1 α levels might be a method to show the systemic endothelial damage induced by OSAS. The SDF-1 α level might be a biochemical parameter in discriminating OSAS from simple snoring and might be a predictive indicator for evaluating the compliance of treatment with CPAP in OSAS patients.