Matrix Metalloproteinase-9 Level and Gene Polymorphism in Sleep Disordered Breathing Patients with or without Cardiovascular Disorders.

OBJECTIVE Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (OSAS) is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We aimed to investigate the matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) level and MMP-9 gene polymorphism in sleep apnea patients with or without cardiovascular disease. STUDY DESIGN Case-control study. MATERIAL AND METHODS Two hundred nine patients [Mean age (±SD), 47 (±12) yrs; M/F, 170/39] diagnosed with sleep-disordered breathing were included in the study. Serum MMP-9 level was performed using enzyme-linked immunosorbant assay (ELISA) and MMP-9 gene polymorphism with polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism. We divided the patient group into two subgroups: (1) patients with confirmed cardiovascular disease, i.e. CV-P Group and (2) patients without cardiovascular disease, CV-N Group. We compared all parameters between the two groups. RESULTS There were 56 OSAS patients with cardiovascular disorder (CV-positive group) and 153 OSAS patients without cardiovascular disorder (CV-negative group). CC, CT and TT genotype distributions between groups were similar [31 (55%), 25 (45%), 0 (0%) vs 88 (57%), 61 (40%), 4 (3%); respectively, p>0.05]. MMP-9 level was significantly higher in CV-P patients (442.7±139.3 pg/mL) than in CV-N patients (364.4±165.0 pg/mL; p=0.0018). CONCLUSION Our results showed that the presence of MMP-9 polymorphism was not associated with cardiovascular disease. MMP-9 level was higher in OSAS patients with cardiovascular disorders than without cardiovascular disorders. Finally, MMP-9 genotype was not associated with serum MMP-9 levels.