With Obstructive Sleep Apnea Hypopnea Syndrome Patients With Soft Palate Histopathology And Normal Soft Palate, Specimen Measurement

Objective: Simple snore(SS) and obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome (OSAHS) are characterized by a collapse of upper airways and obstruction during inspiration and sleep, and the upper airway mucosa of them are often described as edematous and hyperplastic, but the pathophysiological mechanisms of upper airway collapsibility remains unclear. We study the morphometric and qualitative histopathologic changes of soft palate and uvula mucosa in patients with mild, moderate and severe OSAHS and compare them with anthropometric results. In addition, by means of immunohistochemistry, neutral endopeptidase(NEP), substance P(SP) and neurofilament(NF) are also studied to determine whether the neurogenic lesions could be a contributory factor.Methods:Biopsies were obtained by uvulopalatopharyngoplasty from 61 patients with mild to severe OSAHS, as well as 9 patients with habitual snoring.Control specimens of palatopharyngeal and palatoglossal arch mucosa were retrieved from 8 patients with chronic tonsillitis and proved have no related disorders. A morphometric point counting technique was used to determine the tissue composition. Immunohistochemical staining with antibodies against NEP, SP...