Patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Have Altered Levels of Four Cytokines Associated with Cardiovascular and Kidney Disease, but Near Normal Levels with Airways Therapy.

We discuss a concept in which the aberrant levels of these cytokines in untreated OSA patients may represent a chronic response after years of experiencing intermittent nightly hypoxia, which attenuated the acute response to hypoxia. A balanced therapeutic correction of the aberrant levels of these cytokines may limit the progression of CVD and kidney disease in OSA patients.