Salivary biomarkers of obstructive sleep apnea syndrome in children.

OBJECTIVES

The present pilot study was performed to evaluate the HPA axis and ANS activity by measuring salivary cortisol and α-amylase diurnal trajectory and production, respectively, in mild or moderate-to-severe (MS) OSA-affected, but otherwise healthy, children. Moreover, a correlative analysis was performed between the salivary biomarker concentrations and the PSG variables characterizing the OSA severity.

METHODS

We studied 27 consecutive OSA patients (13 mild OSA; 14 MS OSA) and seven healthy children who were enrolled as controls by collecting salivary samples and measuring cortisol and α-amylase levels using enzyme-linked bioassays.

RESULTS

Compared with controls, both mild and MS OSA children showed: (1) increased salivary cortisol diurnal production, (2) maintenance of the physiological circadian activity of the HPA axis, and (3) no changes in α-amylase diurnal trajectory and production. In addition, morning salivary cortisol concentrations was negatively associated with the disease severity in the MS OSA group.

CONCLUSIONS

OSA is associated with dysregulation of the HPA axis activity in children, the latter potentially underlying some of the adverse consequences of the disease.