RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 Leptin and ghrelin levels in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea: effect of CPAP treatment JF European Respiratory Journal JO Eur Respir J FD European Respiratory Society SP 251 OP 257 DO 10.1183/09031936.03.00010103 VO 22 IS 2 A1 I.A. Harsch A1 P.C. Konturek A1 C. Koebnick A1 P.P. Kuehnlein A1 F.S. Fuchs A1 S. Pour Schahin A1 G.H. Wiest A1 E.G. Hahn A1 T. Lohmann A1 J.H. Ficker YR 2003 UL http://erj.ersjournals.com/content/22/2/251.abstract AB Serum leptin and ghrelin levels were investigated in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) syndrome before and during continuous positive airways pressure (CPAP) treatment and compared with body mass index (BMI)-matched controls without OSA. Male patients (n=30) with OSA (apnoea/hypopnoea index=58±16, BMI=32.6±5.3 kg·m−2) underwent CPAP treatment. Fasting leptin and ghrelin were measured atbaseline and 2 days, and in the case of leptin 2 months after initiation of treatment. Baseline plasma ghrelin levels were significantly higher in OSA patients than in controls. After 2 days of CPAP treatment, plasma ghrelin decreased in almost all OSA patients (n=9) to levels that were only slightly higher than those of controls (n=9). Leptin levels did not change significantly from baseline after 2 days of CPAP treatment, but were higher than in the control group. After 8 weeks, leptin levels decreased significantly, although the BMI of the patients showed no change. The decrease in leptin levels was more pronounced in patients with a BMI <30 kg·m−2. These data indicate that the elevated leptin and ghrelin levels are not determined by obesity alone, since they rapidly decreased during continuous positive airways pressure therapy.