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Hyoepiglottic ligament collagen and elastin fiber composition and changes associated with aging
Leslie E Irvine1, Zhi Yang2, Eric J Kezirian3
1Santa Barbara Plastic Surgery Center, Santa Barbara, California, USA.
The Laryngoscope
|January 14, 2018
Summary
Older age reduces collagen and elastin in the hyoepiglottic ligament, potentially worsening upper airway obstruction in patients with obstructive sleep apnea.
Area of Science:
- Anatomy
- Aging Research
- Sleep Medicine
Background:
- The epiglottis may cause upper airway obstruction in 10% of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) patients.
- Older individuals may be more prone to epiglottis-related obstruction.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate hyoepiglottic ligament tissue characteristics as a factor in epiglottis-related obstruction.
- To examine age-related changes in collagen, elastin, and muscle fibers in the hyoepiglottic ligament.
Main Methods:
- Cross-sectional study of 25 human cadaver hyoepiglottic ligaments.
- Histological staining for collagen (Masson's trichrome, Picrosirius red) and elastin (Verhoeff-Van Gieson) fibers.
- Regression analysis to correlate age and smoking history with fiber composition.
Main Results:
- Increasing age correlated with decreased collagen and elastin fiber content.
- Each year increase in age was associated with a significant decrease in collagen and elastin staining percentages.
- These associations remained significant after accounting for tobacco use.
Conclusions:
- Aging leads to reduced collagen and elastin in the hyoepiglottic ligament.
- These age-related tissue changes may contribute to epiglottis-related upper airway obstruction in older adults.
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