atrial-natriuretic-factor and Snoring

A number of pathophysiological phenomena linked to sleep disordered breathing are likely to affect vascular function. This report briefly reviews current knowledge regarding neurogenic vascular tone and a number of circulating hormones with vascular actions in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). New evidence suggesting a role of the vascular endothelium in the development of vascular disease in OSA is also presented.

Topics: Aldosterone; Angiotensin II; Arginine; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Endothelium; Humans; Hypertension; Sleep Apnea Syndromes; Snoring; Sympathetic Nervous System

Snoring increases with increasing age and body mass, and repeated periods of hypoxia cause nocturnal polyuria. Accordingly, we examined the occurrence of snoring problems in patients scheduled for transurethral prostatic resection.. Of 171 men scheduled for TUR-P, 41 were excluded due to cardiac disease, diabetes, or prostatic malignancy. Of the remaining 130 patients, 12% were troubled by snoring that disturbed their sleep. The severity of their snoring was evaluated by questionnaires, micturition charts, and determination of nocturnal capillary oxygen saturation (SaO(2)) and pulse rate. Plasma levels of cortisol, arginine vasopressin (AVP), and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) were measured in the morning and at 2 p.m. Fifteen non-snoring patients also scheduled for TUR-P served as controls.. Compared to controls, the snoring patients had a significantly higher body mass index (BMI), voided more frequently, and produced more urine at night. They also had a significantly larger number of hypoxic episodes at night, which, along with low SaO(2) levels, correlated with the nocturnal diuresis. Snorers did not differ significantly from controls in regard to excretion of cortisol and AVP, but they did have higher plasma levels of ANP.. We recommend that elderly obese men with urgency at night be questioned about snoring, and that micturition frequency and volume charts be completed before deciding to operate.

Topics: Age Factors; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; beta-Endorphin; Body Mass Index; Humans; Hydrocortisone; Male; Middle Aged; Oxygen; Snoring; Surveys and Questionnaires; Urination Disorders

We studied nocturnal and early morning variations in the concentration of plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in 17 men who habitually snored. The subjects had a mean age of 51.0 +/- 5.8 years, range 41-62 y with a mean body mass index (BMI) of 32.9 +/- 7.3 kg/m2. The concentration of plasma ANP was measured by radioimmunoassay of venous samples at 10 p.m., midnight, 6 p.m. and 8 p.m. All night sleep recordings were conducted with the static charge sensitive bed to monitor body and breathing movements and a BIOX III Pulse Oximeter for the blood oxygen saturation level. Nine patients were defined as having the obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS). No significant diurnal variation for ANP concentrations was detected. At 8 a.m. five OSAS patients and two others had ANP concentrations above normal (70 pg/ml). Neither mean oxygen saturation during the night nor arterial hypertension discriminated between the high and low ANP groups at 8 a.m. The best discriminators for a high concentration of ANP at 8 p.m. were marked obesity (BMI greater than or equal to 30 kg/m2), over 400 movements lasting less than five seconds, and over 30% of active sleep per night. In a multivariate regression analysis age, percentage of active sleep during the night, BMI and the median oxygen saturation level during the night explained 76.4% of the total variance of ANP at 8 a.m. In a similar analysis the median oxygen saturation level during the night and BMI both explained the variance of ANP significantly. The whole model explained 53.7% of the variance of the ANP concentrations at 6 a.m.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Topics: Adult; Atrial Natriuretic Factor; Body Mass Index; Circadian Rhythm; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; Oxygen; Sleep Apnea Syndromes; Snoring