Investigation of leptin, ghrelin and orexin levels in children with obstructive sleep apnea

Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) is one of the most common sleep disorders. Its prevalence changes between 1-5 %. As long as it is not treated, OSAS causes growth failure, reduction of school performance and cardiovascular complications in children. Physiopathology, diagnosis and therapy of pediatric OSAS is important. In our study, the significance of serum HDL, LDL, VLDL, total cholesterole, triglyceride, leptin, ghrelin and orexin levels in nonobese children with obstructive sleep apnea were investigated. Thirty eight patients with snoring and apnea in sleep were evaluated in three groups according to their AHİ. Firstly serum samples for HDL, LDL, VLDL, total cholesterole, triglyceride, leptin, ghrelin and orexin were taken from patients thereafter questionnaire was performed. When three groups were compared for total cholesterole, HDL, LDL, leptin, ghrelin and orexin no statistically significant difference was found (p> 0,05). In the first group VLDL values were statistically different from the second and third group (p:0,008) and the cause of this difference was the first group. Significant difference was found between three groups for triglyceride (p:0,044) but when these groups were compared by two groups there was no significant difference for triglyceride (p> 0,016). In adults there are studies showing correlation with OSAS and leptin, ghrelin, orexin. We aimed to investigate such a correlation in nonobese children having OSAS symptoms but the results showed no correlation between these children and leptin, ghrelin, orexin. So, new studies with more patients should be planned to detect the physiopathological roles of these hormones and neuropeptides.Key Words: obstructive sleep apnea, leptin, ghrelin, orexin