This subproject is one of many research subprojects utilizing theresources provided by a Center grant funded by NIH/NCRR. The subproject andinvestigator (PI) may have received primary funding from another NIH source,and thus could be represented in other CRISP entries. The institution listed isfor the Center, which is not necessarily the institution for the investigator.Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is characterized by repeated episodes of upper airways obstruction during sleep that result in partial or complete cessation of airflow leading to intermittent episodes of hypoxia.A large number of studies have recently shown that atherosclerotic blood vessel disease is not simply due to lipid deposition along the blood vessels, but is the result of a chronic local inflammatory reaction. The association between cardiovascular disease and markers of systemic inflammation has been repeatedly demonstrated in several adult studies. Results show a strong correlation between high levels of inflammatory cytokines, adhesion molecules, and the risk of having or dying from cardiovascular disease. Based on this knowledge, we anticipate finding elevated levels of inflammatory markers in obese children with OSA in comparison with obese children without OSA, and later on, decrease in the level of inflammatory markers after the resolution of the OSA.The study of carotid blood vessels provides important knowledge about the elastic and structural properties of the vessel wall. In adults, carotid artery intima thickness is a strong predictor of coronary artery disease. Based on preliminary data showing that children with OSA have abnormal vascular function, we anticipate finding that children with obstructive breathing during sleep develop structural abnormalities of blood vessels which can place them at a greater risk for future cardiovascular disease. So, we are measuring the intima-thickness by carotid ultrasound in the obese children with OSA in comparison to Non-OSA. Then re-measure it after improvement or resolution of OSA.
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