Correlation between Pentraxin-3 and Left Ventricular Diastolic Dysfunction in Obstructive Sleep Apnea

Objective: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is one of independent dangerous factors for cardiovascular disease including heart failure. Recent studies demonstrated that left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) and pentraxin-3 (PTX-3) are early signs for development of heart failure. The objective of our study was to estimate the relation between OSA severity and LVDD and PTX-3. Methods: Sixty-six OSA patients and 25 healthy people who underwent polysomnography to diagnose OSA were enrolled. Ninety-one participants were divided into three groups as per apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), including mild (5 ≤ AHI < 15) and moderate-severe OSA (AHI ≥ 15) and control group (AHI < 5). Left ventricular diastolic function was evaluated by the ratio of early diastolic peak transmitral flow velocity (E)/peak early diastolic mitral annular velocity (Em) (E/Em) and maximal left atrial volume index (LAVI). Peripheral blood levels of PTX-3 were measured. Results: Our results showed that levels of PTX-3 increased significantly, and the ratio of E/Em and maximal LAVI increased obviously with the increase of OSA severity. There was a remarkable positive correlation between the E/ Em ratio, maximal LAVI and AHI. Levels of PTX-3 in serum were positively correlated with the E/Em ratio. Levels of PTX-3 were also positively related with maximal LAVI. Conclusion: OSA patients showed significant enhancement of PTX-3 levels and LVDD. Furthermore, both PTX-3 and LVDD were independently correlated with severity of OSA defined by AHI. Serum PTX-3 levels were positively correlated with LVDD in OSA patients.