Effect of nazal continuous positive airway pressure on right ventricular myocardial performance in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

The effect of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) on right ventricular function is still controversial. In this study, myocardial performance index (Tei index), plasma N terminal Pro B-type Natriuretic Peptide (NT-proBNP) and ischemia modified albumin (IMA) are used for researching the effect of OSAS on right ventricular function. Also we researched the effect of nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) on these parameters.23 patients were included in this study which diagnosed OSAS (intermediate or severe AHI>15) with polysomnography in Karadeniz Technical University Medicine Faculty Chest Disease Clinic in between September 2009 and September 2010. Other 23 person, who have not excess daily sleep, have Epworth sleep score less than 10 and same age group, are taken as a control group. Tei index, Nt-proBNP and IMA were measured in all patients before the CPAP treatment and 3 months after the treatment.Patients with OSAS had statistically significant higher right ventricular Tei index and systolic blood pressure against the control group (p<0.05). There was not significant difference between two groups in NT-proBNP and IMA values. After CPAP treatment in patients group, systolic blood pressure was statistically significantly lower (p<0.05) but there was no difference in Tei index, NT-proBNP and IMA values.As a result, our study shows that in OSAS patient Tei index is higher but NT-proBNP and IMA are not different then the control group. Also these parameters did not change significantly after CPAP treatment. In conclusion, we found that plasma NT-proBNP and IMA levels are not effective as much as Tei index to show the damage that is occurred in myocard in patients with OSAS and these parameters are inadequate to show the effect of CPAP treatment on right ventricular myocardial function.Key words: OSAS, CPAP, Tei index, NT-proBNP, İMA