Chronic inflammation induced by hypoxia during sleep is an important mechanism of microvascular damage in OSA patients. In this study we investigated the role of sphingosine rheostate which has diverse inflammatory effects.

Thirty-seven healthy subjects and 31 patients with OSA were recruited. We collected data on demographics and comorbidities. Plasma sphingosine-1-phosphate and ceramide antibody concentrations were measured with ELISA. The results were compared between the OSA and control group and correlated disease severity, comorbidities and PSG parameters.

Ceramide antibody levels were significantly elevated in OSA (892.17 ng/ml) vs. controls (209.55 ng/ml). S1P levels were also significantly higher in patients with OSA (1760.0 pg/ml)  vs. controls (290.35 pg/ml, p < 0.001). Ceramide antibody concentration showed positive correlation with BMI (? = 0.25, p =0.04), CRP (? = 0.36, p = 0.005), AHI (? = 0.43, p < 0.001),  ODI (? = 0.43, p < 0.001) and TST90% (? = 0.35, p= 0.004). A negative correlation was found between ceramide antibodies and the lowest oxygen saturation (? = -0.37, p = 0.001).

Elevated ceramide antibody and sphingosine-1-phospate in patients suffering of OSA may suggest their involvement in the pathomechanism of OSA and its comorbidities.