Given the unexplained frequent association between systemic hypertension and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA), the secretion of prostanoids during sleep was investigated (more specifically, the ratio of prostacyclin (PGI2) to thromboxane A2 (TxA2), since they have marked opposite effects on vascular tone). Prostacyclin has vasodilating effects, whereas thromboxane results in vasoconstriction. 2. In 11 OSA drug-free male patients (age 53 +/- 2 years, mean +/- s.e.m.; apnoea index 55 +/- 15 apnoeas/hour of sleep; body mass index 31 +/- 2 kg/m2), we measured the urinary excretion during sleep of 6-keto-PGF1-alpha and of thromboxane TxB2 (the stable metabolites of prostacyclin PGI2 and of thromboxane A2 respectively). This was done on two consecutive nights; one untreated, the other with nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) treatment. The results were compared with those of nine normal unobese male subjects. 3. The urinary ratio of 6-keto-PGF1-alpha to TxB2 was significantly (P less than 0.001) lower in the untreated OSA patients (1.7 +/- 0.2) than in the controls (3.1 +/- 0.3). It significantly increased with CPAP treatment to 2.3 +/- 0.2, P less than 0.02, which was no longer different from the controls. 4. These results suggest that OSA is associated with an abnormal release of prostanoids during sleep resulting in a decrease of the prostacyclin to thromboxane ratio which potentially has a vasoconstricting effect. The relationship between these changes and the systemic hypertension often observed in OSA patients remains to be established.
