The Effect of Surgical Treatment on Plasma Leptin Level in Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome(OSAS)

Hong, Seok Min; Kim, Sung Wan; Cho, Joong Saeng; Yeo, Seung Geun

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Leptin is a hormone that involves control of body weight, energy expenditure and respiration. Leptin levels are high not only in obese patients, but also in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) patients, independent of body weight. Leptin levels decrease significantly following continuous nasal positive airway pressure treatment in OSAS patients without any change of body mass index (BMI). The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of surgical treatments on plasma leptin level in patients with OSAS and to investigate the relationship of the change of plasma leptin level with that of daytime sleepiness after surgical treatments.
SUBJECTS AND METHOD
We measured plasma leptin levels in patients diagnosed as OSAS before and 2 months after surgical treatment and also checked Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) scores before and after treatment. We then compared plasma leptin levels and ESS scores, scales of daytime sleepiness preoperatively with those obtained postoperatively. We checked the relationship between changes of plasma leptin level and those of ESS scores.
RESULTS
The plasma leptin level decreased significantly after surgical treatment in patients with OSAS without any significant changes in BMI. Also, the change of serum leptin level after surgical treatment had a positive correlation with that of ESS scores.
CONCLUSION
Leptin is a hormone affected by surgical treatment in patients with OSAS and its level has a positive correlation with daytime sleepiness, one of the symptoms of patients with OSAS.