Abstract: Objective To explore the role of adhesion molecules in the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS) and coronary heart disease(CHD). Methods The levels of serum soluble intercellular adhesion molecule-1(ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1(VCAM-1) in 31 OSAHS patients with CHD, 31 OSAHS patients without CHD and 28 healthy controls were measured by enzymed-linked immunosorbent assay(ELISA). The relationship of the concentration of ICAM-1, VCAM-1 with the polysomnogram parameters was analyzed. Results The levels of serum ICAM-1 in OSAHS patients with CHD and OSAHS patients without CHD were significantly higher compared with the healthy controls(P<0.05). The level of serum VCAM-1 in OSAHS patients was significantly higher than that in the healthy controls(P<0.05), but the level of serum VCAM-1 did not significantly differ between OSAHS patients with CHD and the healthy controls(P>0.05). ICAM-1 in OSAHS patients positively correlated with apnea-hypopnea index(AHI)(r=0.544, P<0.01). ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 also showed significantly positive correlation with body mass index(BMI)(r=0.280, P<0.05). Conclusion The high levels of serum ICAM-1 is an important risk factor for the development of CHD in OSAHS patients.

Key words: obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, coronary heart disease, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1