Thiol-disulfide as a novel indicator of obstructive sleep apnea

Clin Respir J. 2020 Jul;14(7):652-658. doi: 10.1111/crj.13180. Epub 2020 Mar 16.

Abstract

Introduction: Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is an oxidative stress disease, which has been considered to be a notable risk and associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Thiol-disulfide homeostasis is as a novel indicator of oxidative stress.

Objectives: We aimed to evaluate thiol-disulfide homeostasis in a large patient population with OSA.

Methods: A total of 230 with OSA and 40 healthy controls were included in the study. Inclusion criteria for OSA patients are having apnoea-hypopnoea index of ≥5/hour, being more than 18 years of age and having no previous treatment for OSA. Thiol-disulfide analysis was done for the patients and control group. Blood thiol-disulfide homeostasis was analysed using the new automatic method, developed by Erel and Neşelioğlu.

Results: Among all OSA subjects, 149 (64.8%) were males and the mean ages of the patients were 53.38 ± 10.22. Total thiol, native thiol (SH) and disulfide (SS) levels were significantly lower in OSA group compared to the control group (P < .001, P < .001 and P = .039 respectively). Also, total thiol and native thiol (SH) were significantly different between the groups according to OSA severity (mild-moderate to severe OSA) (P < .001 and P < .001 respectively). Thiol-disulfide redox parameters were correlated with apnoea-hypopnoea index (AHI) scores.

Conclusion: The present prospective study showed that thiol/disulfide homeostasis was unbalanced in OSA patients. Especially, in OSA patients have low level of thiol/disulfide redox parameters when compared to healthy subjects. Evaluating thiol-disulfide homeostasis in OSA may be a contributing aspect to assessment and monitoring of the patient.

Keywords: antioxidants; obstructive sleep apnea (OSA); oxidative stress; thiol-disulfide; thiol/disulfide homeostasis.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / epidemiology
  • Cardiovascular Diseases / mortality
  • Case-Control Studies
  • Disulfides / blood*
  • Disulfides / metabolism
  • Female
  • Homeostasis / physiology
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Oxidative Stress / physiology
  • Prospective Studies
  • Risk Factors
  • Severity of Illness Index
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / complications
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / metabolism*
  • Sleep Apnea, Obstructive / physiopathology
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / blood*
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds / metabolism
  • Turkey / epidemiology

Substances

  • Disulfides
  • Sulfhydryl Compounds