Complex relationships between endocrinopathies and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

Sleep-related disordered breathing (SRDB) is a term covering a heterogeneous group of conditions with a similar clinical picture yet different pathogenesis. Nocturnal episodes of obstructive apnoea, leading to repeated periods of desaturation and re-oxygenation, activate chemoreceptors and increase the activity of the sympathetic as well as renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system. Moreover, the generation of free radicals and proinflammatory cytokines increases. All the above mentioned disturbances interfere with the function of endocrine glands. On the other hand, many endocrine disorders are associated with an increased risk of obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS). In this paper, we discuss relationships between selected endocrinopathies and OSAS.