The changes and clinical significance of serum ferritin and hepcidin in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome

Objective To explore the changes and clinical significance of serum ferritin (SF)and hepcidin in patients with obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome (OSAS).Methods 51 cases of male patients with OSAS,diagnosed by polysomnography were selected,which included simple OSAS group 36 cases (mild OSAS group 13 cases,moderate and severe OSAS group 23 cases),OSAS with diabetes group 15 cases.14 patients with simple type 2 diabetes mellitus(T2DM)were selected as T2DM group.And selected 18 obese men as control group.Measured the levels of fasting plasma glucose(FPG),HbA1c and fasting insulin of each group.SF and hepcidin levels were tested by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA),and their effects on glycometabolism in paitents with OSAS were observed.Results (1) The levels of SF in mild OSAS group,moderate and severe OSAS group,OSAS with diabetes group and T2DM group were (268.24 ± 47.94),(316.45 ± 49.36),(377.66 ± 49.95),(286.01 ± 45.53) μg/L respectively,and were higher than that in the control group [(203.28 ± 32.83) μg/L],the differences were statistically significant (F =39.38,P ＜ 0.01).The levels of hepcidin were decreased,which were (66.41 ± 12.00),(47.34 ± 13.35),(34.52 ± 8.49),(54.45 ±8.25) μg/L respectively,and were lower than that in the control group[(88.26 ± 12.34) μg/L],the differences were statistically significant (F =67.80,P ＜ 0.01).(2) SF and hepcidin were correlated with apnea-hypopnea index,the blood oxygen saturation less than 90％ of the percentation of total sleep time,longest apnea time,minimum blood oxygen saturation(r =-0.65 ～0.34,all P ＜0.01) ;SF had linear correlation with hepcidin(F =22.40,P ＜0.01).Conclusion SF and hepcidin levels in OSAS patients are obvious abnormal,and may play roles in the occurrence of T2DM. Key words: Obstructive sleep apnea hypopnea syndrome; Serum ferritin; Hepcidin; Type 2 diabetes mellitus