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Updated: Jun 26, 2026

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels
05:31

Noninvasive Sampling of Mucosal Lining Fluid for the Quantification of In Vivo Upper Airway Immune-mediator Levels

Published on: August 7, 2017

Urine concentrations of cysteinyl leukotrienes in children with obstructive sleep-disordered breathing

Athanasios G Kaditis1, Emmanouel Alexopoulos1, Konstantinos Chaidas1

  • 1Sleep Disorders Laboratory, University of Thessaly School of Medicine and Larissa University Hospital, Larissa, Greece.

Chest
|January 15, 2009
PubMed

Insights

Elevated urine cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) correlate with obstructive sleep apnea severity in children. This suggests CysLTs play a role in childhood sleep apnea development.

Area of Science:

  • Pediatric Pulmonology
  • Sleep Medicine
  • Biochemistry

Background:

  • Obstructive sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) in children is linked to increased cysteinyl leukotrienes (CysLTs) in adenotonsillar tissue.
  • Elevated CysLTs concentrations are also found in the exhaled breath of children with sleep apnea.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To examine the association between urine CysLTs levels and the severity of SDB in pediatric patients.
  • Investigate potential biomarkers for SDB severity in children.

Main Methods:

  • Urine CysLTs concentrations were measured in children with SDB symptoms and controls.
  • Polysomnography was used to assess SDB severity (obstructive apnea-hypopnea index [OAHI]).
  • Urine creatinine levels were used for normalization.

Main Results:

  • Children with moderate-to-severe SDB exhibited significantly higher urine CysLTs levels compared to those with mild SDB, primary snoring, or controls.
  • Log-transformed CysLTs concentration, tonsillar size, and BMI z-score were significant predictors of OAHI.
  • The study included groups with moderate-to-severe SDB, mild SDB, primary snoring, and healthy controls.

Conclusions:

  • Urine CysLTs excretion is directly related to the severity of obstructive sleep-disordered breathing in children.
  • These findings suggest that 5-lipoxygenase pathway products may contribute to the pathogenesis of childhood obstructive sleep apnea.
  • Alternatively, SDB itself might promote CysLTs biosynthesis.
Abstract

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