PT - JOURNAL ARTICLE AU - Kim Van Hoorenbeeck AU - Hilde Franckx AU - Luc Van Gaal AU - Kristine Desager AU - Wilrfied De Backer AU - Stijn Verhulst TI - Oxidative stress in obese children with sleep-disordered breathing DP - 2011 Sep 01 TA - European Respiratory Journal PG - p2275 VI - 38 IP - Suppl 55 4099 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p2275.short 4100 - http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/38/Suppl_55/p2275.full SO - Eur Respir J2011 Sep 01; 38 AB - Background: Sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) is prevalent in obese children. It is an independent risk factor for the metabolic syndrome. Oxidative stress is a possible linking mechanism and is reflected by serum uric acid (UA).Aim: In this prospective follow-up study we focused on the effects of SDB on oxidative stress in childhood obesity, before and after weight loss treatment.Methods: Obese children, attending an in-patient weight reduction program, between 10 and 18 years were included consecutively. All subjects had 1 baseline and 1 follow-up visit after 4-6 months of weight loss. UA was measured at both visits. A polygraphy was performed at baseline and repeated in case of oxygen desaturation index (ODI) ≥ 2 at admission.Results: 132 obese patients participated. Median age was 15.4 years (10.1-18.0). Mean BMI z-score was 2.72±0.42. SDB was diagnosed in 39%. At baseline, UA concentration correlated negatively with mean nocturnal SaO2 (r=-0.29; P=0.001). There was a positive correlation between UA and ODI (r=0.18; P=0.04). Regression analysis showed a significant relation between UA and ODI, also after adjusting for BMI z-score (partial r=0.18; P=0.04). Median decrease in BMI z-score was 32%. Weight loss treatment was successful in 71% of the subjects with SDB at baseline. UA concentration dropped in all patients. Improvements in UA were associated with improvements in ODI in linear regression analysis, after controlling for decrease in BMI z-score (partial r=0.41; P=0.01).Conclusion: There exists a significant association between UA and ODI at baseline, even after controlling for BMI z-score. Changes in ODI after treatment are reflected by changes in UA, independent of the degree of weight loss.