Background: Oxidative stress is a condition characterized by an imbalance between the production of pro-oxidant factors (i.e. ROS) and the ability of biological systems to counteract them with antioxidant mechanisms. In patients with OSAS, the oxidative stress induced by intermittet hypoxia generates the release of proinflammatory factors responsible for the onset of systemic damage, which occurs primarily through endothelial damage.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate blood levels of oxidative stress in children with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS).

Methods: Children with sleep disordered breathing (SDB) were recruited. OSAS patients were diagnosed based on polysomnography (PSG). A blood sample was collected in children with OSAS to evaluate oxidative stress markers: total antioxidant status, biological antioxidant potential test, diacron reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs test).

Results: Children with OSAS showed significant differences in Total Antioxidant Status (2.13 ±0.2 vs 0.93-1.33 mmol/L, p=0.0001) and d-ROMs test (25.4 ±1.2 vs<24 mgH2O2/dL, p=0.0001) when compared to normal pediatric values.

Conclusions: Total Antioxidant Status and d-ROMs test proved to be reliable and useful as early markers of systemic oxidative stress in children with OSAS.