[Change of ACTH and cortisol in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome after the operation of uvulopalatopharyngoplasty].

OBJECTIVE

To explore the change of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal hormone in patients with Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) by observing the change of Corticotropin (ACTH) and cortisol after Uvulopalatopharyngoplasty (UPPP).

METHOD: OSAHS patients were monitored by polysomnography (PSG). The ACTH and cortisol levels in plasma were measured by radioimmunoassay before, during and after sleep in pre-operation and six months post-operation. Their correlation were analyzed.

RESULT: The cortisol concentration [ (170.4+/-56.5) microg/L, (252.2+/-62.3) microg/L, (276.9+/-70.4) microg/L, (2859.0+/-63.2) microg/L, (395.1+/-85.2) microg/L before, during and after sleep] in the before UPPP group were significantly higher than those of the after UPPP group [(133.5+/-24.8) microg/L, (99.9+/-9.2) microg/L, (103.8+/-13.2) microg/L, (146.2+/-22.5) microg/L, (199.6+/-20.9) microg/L before, during and after sleep, respectively, all P <0. 05]; but there was no difference in corticotropin(ACTH). The average blood oxygen concentration was negatively correlated with average awareness duration (r = -0.713).

CONCLUSION

There are abnormal change of HPA axis in OSAHS patients, and the feedback regulation is disordered. These abnormalities are related to sleep awareness and hypoxia during sleep.