[Malfunction of some immunologic functions in patients with obstructive sleep apnea]

Hypoxia and sleep disorders may result in an impairment of immune system in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). Therefore we studied mitogenic stimulation of peripheral blood lymphocytes by PHA (1 microgram/ml) by measurement of 3H-thymidine incorporation, metabolic activity of neutrophils measured by chemiluminescence (CL), immunoglobulins (IgG, IgA and IgM) concentration in serum (radial immunodiffusion) and TNF-alpha concentration in serum (ELISA), and E-rosette tests (with theophylline) in 57 obese patients with severe OSA. In OSA patients severe impairment of f-MLP-induced granulocyte chemiluminescent activity was observed.