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Impaired circadian variation of platelet activity in patients with sleep apnea

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Abstract

Background

Cardiovascular diseases are frequent in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSAS). There is evidence that the day–night pattern of myocardial infarction and sudden cardiac death observed in the general population is altered in patients with OSAS. This study investigates potential abnormalities in the circadian profiles of platelet activity in OSAS.

Methods

We studied 37 patients with OSAS [7 of whom were also studied after 3 months on continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment] and 11 controls. In each subject, we obtained six different blood samples during 24-h period (2200, 0200, 0600, 1000, 1400, and 1800 hours). Platelet activity was determined by flow cytometry immediately after sampling.

Results

We found that nocturnal platelet activity was significantly increased in patients with OSAS (p = 0.043) and that effective treatment with CPAP decreased platelet activity in these patients but differences just failed to reach statistical significance (p = 0.063).

Conclusions

OSAS is associated with increased platelet activity during the night, and that this appears to be improved by chronic use of CPAP. These results may contribute to explain the high prevalence of cardiovascular events during sleep in OSAS.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Margalida Bosch and Mónica Iglesias for their assistance in the coordination of the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Serveis de Anàlisis Cliniques, Hospital Universitari Son Dureta, C/ Andrea Doria 55, 07014, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

    Antonia Barceló & Olga Ayllon

  2. Serveis de Pneumologia, Hospital Universitari Son Dureta, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

    Mónica de la Peña & Alberto Alonso-Fernández

  3. Unitat de Investigació, Hospital Universitari Son Dureta, Palma de Mallorca, Spain

    Javier Piérola & Guillem Frontera

  4. CIBER enfermedades respiratorias (CIBERES), Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain

    Antonia Barceló, Javier Piérola, Mónica de la Peña, Alberto Alonso-Fernández & Alvar G. N. Agusti

  5. Fundació Caubet-Cimera (Bunyola, Balears), Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain

    Aina Yañez & Alvar G. N. Agusti

  6. Institut Clinic del Tórax, Hospital Clínic, Barcelona, Spain

    Alvar G. N. Agusti

Authors
  1. Antonia Barceló
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  2. Javier Piérola
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  6. Alberto Alonso-Fernández
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  7. Olga Ayllon
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  8. Alvar G. N. Agusti
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Antonia Barceló.

Additional information

The study is supported in part by SEPAR and Fondo de Investigaciones Sanitarias 07/906.

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Barceló, A., Piérola, J., de la Peña, M. et al. Impaired circadian variation of platelet activity in patients with sleep apnea. Sleep Breath 16, 355–360 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-011-0501-5

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11325-011-0501-5

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