Methods: Ninety-nine patients were divided into four groups (non-SAS, SAS-mild, SAS-moderate and SAS-severe) by apnea-hypopnea index (AHI). PA was analyzed by flow cytometry. IL-18 and h-CRP were measured by ELISA and Behring Nepherometer II, respectively, and stress index was quantified using Diacron Reactive Oxygen Metalites test (d-ROMs).
Results: (1) Positive correlation was recognized between AHI, and IL-18 and PA (p<0.05).
(2) Positive correlation was recognized between h-CRP, and PA and d-ROMs (p<0.05).
(3) Significant difference was recognized between non-SAS and SAS-severe in IL-18 (152.2 pg/ml vs. 192.8 pg/ml, p<0.05).
(4) Significant difference was recognized between non-SAS and SAS-total in h-CRP (0.06627 mg/dlvs. 0.11720 mg/dl, p<0.05).
(5) Significant difference was recognized between non-SAS, and SAS-mild and SAS-sever in h-CRP (0.06627 mg/dl vs. 0.09996 mg/dl and 0.15653 mg/dl, p<0.05).
(6) Significant difference was recognized between SAS-mild and SAS-sever in PA (2.73% vs. 5.27%, p<0.05).
(7) There was no significant sexual difference in all data.
Conclusion: h-CRP and IL-18 were useful marker for diagnosis and prediction of disease-severity of SAS. On the contrary, stress index was not useful at this point.
However, stress index was reflecting the inflammatory status of SAS in relation to h-CRP.