Histological evaluation of soft palate tissues in patients with sleep disordered breathing

Introduction Sleep is a physiological state essential for proper functioning of the body. One of the reasons for sleep disorders is obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

The aim of this research is histological evaluation of the mucous membrane of the soft palate in patients affected by various forms of OSAS.

The studied group consisted of patients with sleep-related breathing disorder in the form of primary snoring or OSAS. People with chronic tonsillitis, without a history of sleep-related breathing disorders, were included in the comparative group. Fragments of the mucous membrane of the uvula (study group) and the glossopalatine arch (comparative group) were taken for histological examination during surgery. Using histological, histochemical and immunohistochemical methods, we assessed the presence and severity of inflammation (CD3, CD20, CD68), the structure of nerve fibers (S-100) and the size of blood vessels (CD34) in the examined tissue.

Patients with OSAS developed a local inflammatory process in the oropharyngeal tissues (stronger expression of CD3, CD20, CD68 in people with OSAS). The exacerbation of the immunohistochemical reaction with CD3 correlated with the phase of OSAS. We found a higher degree of fibrosis and a higher expression of CD34 and S-100 receptors in subjects with OSAS compared to snoring patients and patients from the comparative group.

Due to chronic tissue vibration, snoring most likely leads to damage to the nerve fibers in the soft palate, which can intensify episodes of shallow breathing during sleep and increase the occurrences of apnea.