阻塞型睡眠呼吸暂停综合征与动脉粥样硬化

阻塞型睡眠呼吸暂停综合征（obstructive sleep apnea syndrome，OSAS）是临床上常见的重要慢性睡眠呼吸疾病。近年来的研究已证实，OSAS是动脉粥样硬化性疾病的独立危险因素。OSAS患者在睡眠时由于上气道阻塞或部分阻塞导致反复发作的慢性间歇性缺氧，这可能是其诱发动脉粥样硬化性疾病的重要原因，此过程中可能的分子机制包括：I-κB复合物和P38激酶激活调控NF-κB信号通路；端粒酶和Fas死亡配体依赖性细胞凋亡调控途径；间歇性缺氧诱发肝脏损伤导致高胆固醇血症和脂质过氧化反应代谢紊乱，引起不可逆的血管和周围组织重塑，伴有平滑肌增生和纤维化，导致动脉粥样硬化。

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and atherosclerosis

Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a frequent sleep apnea disorder in clinic. Recent studies indicate that OSAS is an independent risk factor for atherosclerotic diseases. Because of the obstruction or partial obstruction of upper airway in sleep, OSAS induces the repeated chronic intermittent hypoxia of patient, which may be the major reason for OSAS to induces atherosclerotic diseases. And the possible mechanisms may be the followings: the activation of I-κB compound and P38 kinase to NF-κB signaling pathway; mitochondrial and Fas death receptor dependent apoptotic pathways; chronic intermittent hypoxia induces liver injury and leads to hyperlipidemia and lipid peroxidation, which induces the irreversible remodeling of vessels and the surrounding tissues with smooth muscle cell proliferation and fibrosis and leads to atherosclerosis finally.