Autoantibodies against oxidised low-density lipoprotein in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea

Autoantibodies against oxidised low-density lipoprotein (OxLDL-Abs) have be en proposed to be an indicator of endothelial dysfunction and a novel tool for finding individuals with a high cardiovascular risk. In a cross-section al study, OxLDL-Abs were measured in 297 patients with obstructive sleep ap noea (OSA) and 54 controls using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. The autoantibodies were increased in patients with OSA when compared to con trols (age, body mass index (BMI) and gender adjusted, p = 0.001). However, within the OSA patients, OxLDL-Abs were not related to smoking, hypertensi on or BMI, and there was a weak negative correlation (r = -0.16, P = 0.007) between age and levels of OxLDL-Abs. in conclusion, at present the measure ment OxLDL-Abs still remains a method for basic research and is not applica ble for screening of at-risk patients with OSA.