Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is a risk factor for arterial thrombosis and cardiovascular morbidity. Activated platelets play key roles in the development of atherothrombosis, thus may be involved in these complications of OSAS. Herein, we evaluated the relationship between severity of OSAS and the degree of platelet aggregates as a marker of activated platelets in 64 patients with OSAS. Platelet aggregations were determined by means of optical aggregometry, using adenosine diphosphate (ADP) as an agonist. Compared with the control group, ADP-induced platelet aggregability was increased in patients with total OSAS, severe OSAS, and in mild to moderate OSAS. Moreover, ADP-induced platelet aggregation was correlated with the Epworth sleepiness scale (ESS) in patients with severe OSAS. Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome is associated with enhanced platelets aggregations, which may predispose the cardiovascular sequels. The ESS may be important in predicting platelet activation and thus atherothrombotic complications in those with OSAS.
Keywords: adenosine diphosphate; blood platelets; obstructive; platelet activation; platelet aggregation; sleep apnea; thrombosis.