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Table 8.1 Systemic autoimmune disease and obstructive sleep apnea
Systemic autoimmune diseases related to obstructive sleep apnea
1. Rheumatoid arthritis
2. Ankylosing spondylitis
3. Systemic lupus erythematosus
4. Sjögren’s syndrome
5. Systemic sclerosis
6. Inammatory myopathies
7. Vasculitides
Fig. 8.1 Complex relationship between obstructive sleep apnea, autoimmunity and obesity
autoimmune diseases? (2) Are systemic autoimmune diseases a predisposing factor for developing obstructive sleep apnea? (3) Can obstructive sleep apnea predispose to systemic autoimmune diseases? Existing literature does not provide a satisfactory answer to these questions but sheds some light on the matter (Fig.8.1).
8.1 Common Pathophysiological Pathways Between
Obstructive Sleep Apnea andSystemic Autoimmune Diseases
Episodes of intermittent apnea result in decreased airow (and therefore oxygen) through the airway, leading to tissue hypoxia. The consequence of this “intermittent hypoxia” is increased oxidative stress and lipid peroxidation. This leads to a state of chronic inammation, which is characterized by the expression of cytokines such as tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), interleukin (IL)-6 and IL-8, among others [5, 13].
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This inammatory state is also characterized by the activation of transcription factors such as the hypoxia-inducible factor (HIF) and the nuclear factor kappa beta (NF-ƙB). HIF plays a role in angiogenesis processes that take place in inammatory phenomena. In turn, NF-ƙB induces the transcription of genes related to proinam­matory cytokines (TNF-α, IL-1, IL-2, IL-6, IL-8, IL-12), promotes the proliferation of immune system cells and has an antiapoptotic effect on some of these cells [5, 1316].
Additionally, alterations in sleep patterns that necessarily accompany obstruc­tive apnea lead to changes in the immune system, such as a decrease in natural killer cells and an increase in proinammatory cytokines such as IL-1 and IL-2 [5].
There is a complex interrelationship between obesity, obstructive sleep apnea and autoimmune diseases. The link between obesity and obstructive sleep apnea is well known, as it has been demonstrated that the accumulation of adipose tissue in the walls of the pharynx can cause a reduction in the caliber of the upper airway. Moreover, obesity is linked to proinammatory states that may, in turn, favor inam­mation and upper airway narrowing. Indeed, adipose tissue is responsible for pro­ducing adiponectin, TNF-α and IL-6, among other cytokines, which clearly further predispose to the onset of systemic autoimmune diseases. Therefore, this may lead to a multidirectional process whereby adipose tissue promotes the appearance of apnea and systemic autoimmune diseases, conditions that will reinforce each other (Fig.8.1) [5, 17, 18].
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8.2 Systemic Autoimmune Diseases asaPredisposing
Factor forObstructive Sleep Apnea
Several publications show that obstructive sleep apnea occurs more frequently in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases when prevalence gures are compared with the general population [7, 9, 10].
This raises the possibility of a causal relationship between systemic autoimmune diseases and obstructive sleep apnea. This could occur through several possible mechanisms, some of which were addressed in the paragraphs above. Inammatory activity mediated by cytokines and transcription factors is common in several dis­eases. Moreover, factors specic to each disease may explain a greater predisposi­tion to the onset of obstructive sleep apnea. Thus, alterations of the cervical spine (in rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis), retrognathia (in rheumatoid arthritis) or weakness of the pharyngeal muscles (in inammatory myopathies) are local factors that can lead to upper airway obstruction and subsequent apnea (Figs.8.2a–e). In other inammatory diseases (such as Sjögren’s syndrome, sys­temic sclerosis, vasculitides, systemic lupus erythematosus), the local mechanisms that may cause or worsen obstructive apnea are not very clear (Table8.2) [5, 11,
14, 1921].
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a b
3
1
2
4
5
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c
d
e
Fig. 8.2 (a) Lateral X-ray of the normal cervical spine (neutral position). Some anatomical struc- tures are indicated: C1 vertebra (1), C2 vertebra (2), nasopharynx (3), oropharynx (4) and laryngo­pharynx (5). (b and c). In a normal cervical spine, both in the neutral position and in exion, the anterior arch of C1 (red line) and the odontoid process of C2 (yellow line) are united and the nasopharynx retains its caliber (white circle). (d and e). When dislocation between C1 and C2 occurs in rheumatoid arthritis, the separation of the rst two vertebrae (separation of the red and yellow lines) is accentuated by exion of the cervical spine and may be accompanied by a decrease in the caliber of the nasopharynx (white circle)
Table 8.2 Local factors leading to upper airway obstruction in systemic autoimmune diseases
Disease Local factor leading to upper airway obstruction Rheumatoid arthritis C1–C2 damage (dislocation, impaction, C2 erosion or
fracture) Rheumatoid arthritis Subaxial luxation (below C2) Rheumatoid arthritis Temporomandibular damage (causing retrognathism) Ankylosing spondylitis Cervical spine involvement Inammatory myopathies Involvement of respiratory and pharyngeal muscles Sjögren’s syndrome Cytokine-mediated narrowing of the upper airway Sjögren’s syndrome Lymphoid inltration of the upper airway Sjögren’s syndrome Increased viscosity of respiratory secretions
a
These mechanisms are less clear than in other diseases
a
a
a
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8.3 Obstructive Sleep Apnea asaPredisposing Factor forSystemic Autoimmune Diseases
Existing studies in populations of patients with systemic autoimmune diseases have demonstrated the increased prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea in these groups. Furthermore, studies in cohorts of patients with obstructive sleep apnea have con­cluded they face a higher risk of developing systemic autoimmune diseases.
In 2016, Chen etal. published a retrospective study using nationwide databases in Taiwan. Data were obtained from 105,846 adults diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea between 2002 and 2011. Patients with a previous history of autoim­mune disease were excluded from this retrospective analysis. The study included a control group with 423,384 participants without obstructive sleep apnea. According to the results, patients with obstructive sleep apnea face an increased risk of suffering from autoimmune diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis (HR [95% CI]: 1.33), Sjögren’s syndrome (HR: 3.45) and Behçet’s disease (HR: 5.33). This study did not nd an increased risk of developing systemic lupus erythema­tosus or systemic sclerosis among patients with obstructive sleep apnea [22].
In a smaller cohort, also from Taiwan, Kang and Lin report similar ndings: the risk of developing rheumatoid arthritis was higher in patients with obstructive sleep apnea than in the control group (HR [95% CI]: 1.66) [23].
Even though a solid relationship between obstructive sleep apnea and the development of psoriatic arthritis or other spondyloarthritis has not been rmly established, a surprising link has been identied with the onset of cutaneous pso­riasis. In Taiwan, Yang etal. found that a prospective cohort of patients with obstructive sleep apnea diagnosed by polysomnography faced an increased risk of developing psoriasis (HR [95% CI]: 2.30). Cohen etal. also established an asso­ciation between obstructive sleep apnea and psoriasis in a cohort of nurses in the United States (RR [95% CI]: 2.19). However, this study does not specify the cri­teria (probably very heterogeneous) that enabled them to diagnose obstructive sleep apnea [24, 25].
8.4 Obstructive Sleep Apnea inRheumatoid Arthritis
It is estimated that more than a third of patients with rheumatoid arthritis suffer from obstructive sleep apnea, a prevalence much higher than in the general population. The risk factors are the same as those described for individuals without arthritis: age, obesity and neck circumference. However, two circumstances specic to rheu­matoid arthritis have been associated with obstructive sleep apnea: involvement of the cervical spine (Figs.8.2a–e) and retrognathism associated with temporoman­dibular joint involvement [6, 26].
Rheumatoid arthritis frequently affects the cervical spine and causes lesions mainly at the level of the atlantoaxial joint (C1–C2 dislocation) and the odontoid apophysis of C2 (which can suffer erosions and even fractures). Additionally, atlan­toaxial impaction or basilar impaction (due to damage to the atlantooccipital joints or the C1–C2 joints at the level of the lateral masses of the atlas) is also described.
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Finally, subaxial subluxation can occur, a less frequent form in which the interver­tebral joints at multiple levels below C2 are affected (Table8.2) [27].
In a Japanese series, Shoda etal. describe 29 patients with cervical spine lesions without other factors that could increase the risk of obstructive apnea (such as obesity, adenoid hypertrophy, nasal obstruction, cricoarytenoid arthritis or temporomandibu­lar involvement). Obstructive sleep apnea was found in 79% of cases. None of the patients had apnea of central origin, possibly because of the absence of signicant spinal cord lesions. The authors suggest that obstructive apnea is determined by an interaction between the mechanical properties of the upper airway and neurological alterations in the regulation of muscle tone. Indeed, cervical spine lesions cause the spine to shorten, reducing the caliber of the upper airway and favoring its obstruction. In addition, the authors speculate that occipitocervical lesions could be associated with alterations of cranial nerves V, VII, IX, X and XII, responsible for controlling the muscles that dilate the airway, generating its collapse [28].
Surgical treatment of cervical spine deformities that corrects kyphosis associated with atlantooccipital and atlantoaxial joint disorders has been shown to increase airway patency, improving obstructive apnea [29].
The involvement of the temporomandibular joints is widely known in rheuma­toid arthritis. Severe damage to these joints may cause retrognathism, leading to the reduction in the caliber of the upper airway and its obstruction. CPAP treatment has been proposed in these rare cases. Tracheostomy proved to be the solution in an extremely severe case. Surgical interventions on the temporomandibular joint have also been considered (Table8.2) [3033].
Regardless of the evident cause–effect relationship between the anatomical alter­ations described in patients with rheumatoid arthritis and obstructive sleep apnea, it should be noted that in most cases, apnea is related to systemic inammatory phe­nomena. Therefore, systemic treatment with disease-modifying drugs that act on proinammatory cytokines may be useful to improve respiratory alterations. Although there is not enough evidence in this regard, the impact of pharmacological treatment of arthritis on obstructive sleep apnea should be the subject of future research [34].
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8.5 Obstructive Sleep Apnea inAnkylosing Spondylitis
A retrospective study was carried out in Taiwan with a cohort of 2210 patients diag­nosed with ankylosing spondylitis between 2003 and 2013 and a control group of 8840 adults (Tsao etal. 2019). The study found an adjusted hazard ratio (aHR) of
2.826 (95% CI: 3.169–19.792) for developing obstructive sleep apnea. Indeed, dur­ing the 11-year follow-up period, 30 patients with ankylosing spondylitis (1.36%) developed obstructive sleep apnea compared to 40 controls (0.46%) [7].
Wiginder etal. found different results in Sweden. Using home sleep monitoring devices, the authors compared 46 ankylosing spondylitis patients with 179 controls.
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Approximately half of the subjects in both groups (47.8% and 50.8%, respectively) had obstructive sleep apnea. It is possible that the sample size did not allow nding differences between the two groups [35].
It is well known that the inammatory activity of certain systemic diseases can cause tiredness and produce sleep disturbances, further worsening the symptoms of fatigue. Obstructive apnea can also manifest itself in daytime tiredness, independent of the inammation. Manifestations of the systemic inammatory activity of anky­losing spondylitis may sometimes be confused with sleep disorders [3638].
It has been proposed that cervical spine involvement in ankylosing spondylitis may cause upper airway stenosis, favoring the development of obstructive apnea. It is also important to consider the role of inammation mechanisms on the mucosa and lymphoid tissue adjacent to the airway, which could contribute to obstructive phenomena (Table8.2) [39, 40].
The treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in patients with ankylosing spondylitis does not differ from the usual treatment (sleep hygiene, avoiding certain medica­tions, weight loss, postural measures, using a CPAP). Furthermore, it has been sug­gested that anti-TNF and other anti-inammatory agents can reduce apnea symptoms and improve sleep quality, although there is no agreement in this regard [3941].
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8.6 Obstructive Sleep Apnea inInflammatory Myopathies
As inammatory myopathies (polymyositis, dermatomyositis and inclusion body myopathy) are low-prevalence diseases, there are fewer publications on the relation­ship with obstructive sleep apnea than other systemic autoimmune diseases.
Selva-O’Callaghan etal. published a case series of 16 patients with inamma­tory myopathies (12 with dermatomyositis, 2 with polymyositis and 2 with inclu­sion body myopathy) who underwent polysomnography. The mean apnea–hypopnea index (AHI) was 28.7, and sleep apnea (dened as an AHI higher than 5) was docu­mented in 14 of the 16 patients (87%). Episodes of apnea of central origin were detected only occasionally. Treatment with CPAP in four patients showed very good results [11].
Rodríguez Cruz etal. published their experience with 15 patients with inclusion body myopathy. Using home sleep monitoring devices, the authors diagnosed sleep apnea (AHI higher than or equal to 5) in 100% of the patients. The mean AHI was
23.4; ve patients had mild apnea (AHI: 5–15), six had moderate apnea (AHI: 15–30) and four had severe apnea (AHI higher than 30) [42].
Based on the available literature, no specic guidelines can be established regarding the treatment of obstructive sleep apnea in inammatory myopathies. In addition to the treatments currently described (including positive pressure devices), pharmacological treatment—immunosuppressants and glucocorti­coids—is essential to achieve recovery of the respiratory and pharyngeal muscles (Table8.2).
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8.7 Obstructive Sleep Apnea inSjögren’s Syndrome
A retrospective study in Taiwan included 12,926 patients diagnosed with Sjögren’s syndrome between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2011. The control group consisted of 51,704 individuals without autoimmune diseases. The diagnosis of sleep apnea was made by polysomnography. After adjusting for age, sex and comor­bidities, obstructive sleep apnea incidence was signicantly higher in patients with Sjögren’s syndrome than in controls (0.61% and 0.33%, respectively). The risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea was found to be increased, with an aHR of 2.48 (95% CI: 1.89–3.24) [12].
Karabul etal. published a prospective study on 44 patients with Sjögren’s syn­drome, consecutively recruited between April 1, 2019, and December 31, 2020. All patients underwent a polysomnography study and 84% (37 of 44) were diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, reecting a higher prevalence than the general popula­tion. Of the patients diagnosed with obstructive sleep apnea, 12 (27%) suffered a mild form, 19 (43%) a moderate form and 6 (14%) a severe form. Comparing Sjögren’s syndrome patients with and without obstructive sleep apnea revealed a statistically signicant association between apnea and age, higher body mass index, overweight and obesity. There was no relationship between apnea and lung involve­ment associated with Sjögren’s syndrome [9].
The mechanisms by which Sjögren’s syndrome is associated with obstructive sleep apnea are unclear. There are several possibilities, which could contribute simultaneously. As mentioned above, cytokine-mediated proinammatory states can promote inammation and narrowing of the upper airway. Additionally, lym­phoid inltration of the upper airway contributes to a decrease in airway caliber. The increased viscosity of respiratory secretions associated with the sicca syndrome may also contribute to airow obstruction. Simultaneously with airway dryness, an increase in the surface tension of the liquid layer lining the mucosa has been described. This increase in surface tension favors airway collapse, requiring a sig­nicant increase in intraluminal pressure to achieve reopening. However, it has not been corroborated that the upper airway in Sjögren’s syndrome patients is system­atically more prone to collapse (Table8.2) [43].
8.8 Obstructive Sleep Apnea inSystemic
Lupus Erythematosus
Chronic fatigue is undoubtedly one of the common nonspecic symptoms in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. It could reect the inammatory activ­ity of the disease, its sequelae, the presence of depression, the side effects of medi­cations or alterations in sleep patterns [44, 45].
Valencia-Flores etal. compared 14 systemic lupus erythematosus patients with 11 healthy controls of similar age but with a lower body mass index (26.78kg/m2 on average in the lupus patients versus 20.85kg/m2 in the controls). The number of respiratory events per hour (apneas and hypopneas) was quantied, determining the
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respiratory disturbance index (RDI). The mean RDI in the patients with lupus ery­thematosus was 8.84 and 1.89in controls. Half of the patients had mild or moderate apnea: moderate apnea (RDI >10 and <30) was diagnosed in 3 of the 14 patients with lupus (21.5%), and mild apnea (RDI >5 and <10) was diagnosed in 4 patients (28.6%). Additionally, a signicant increase in abnormal limb movements was found in lupus patients with and without respiratory disorders [8].
Iaboni etal. also reported sleep disturbances in a group of 35 patients with lupus. The AHI was higher than 5in 20 of the 35 patients (57%). Nine patients (25.7%) with obstructive sleep apnea were found to have an AHI higher than 10; the average AHI in this group was 19.3. Even though this article does not specify the AHI of the control group of 17 healthy individuals, it compares other parameters (sleep ef­ciency, awakening/hours of sleep), nding sleep disturbances in patients with lupus that could partly explain the frequently reported fatigue [45].
As in other systemic autoimmune diseases, obstructive sleep apnea is frequently found in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. It has been postulated that chronic use of glucocorticoids may partially explain sleep disturbances, but this has not been sustained. No mechanisms specic to lupus have been described to explain the higher frequency of obstructive sleep apnea, but the previously mentioned inammatory mediators probably play a role [8, 18, 19, 4547].
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8.9 Obstructive Sleep Apnea inSystemic Sclerosis
Medical literature describes two main types of systemic sclerosis (scleroderma): the limited and diffuse cutaneous forms. The former usually presents itself without pul­monary parenchymal involvement, but pulmonary hypertension is a frequent mani­festation. In the latter, both pulmonary hypertension and interstitial involvement are frequent manifestations. The increase in pulmonary artery diameter allows for esti­mating pulmonary hypertension. Yakut etal. used home sleep monitoring devices to evaluate 62 patients (58 women). Obstructive sleep apnea was diagnosed when AHI 15/h. Interstitial involvement and pulmonary artery diameter were assessed using computed axial tomography. Obstructive sleep apnea was documented in 20 patients (32%): 17/42 (40%) with the limited form and 3/20 (15%) with the diffuse form. There were no differences in lung parenchyma involvement between patients with and without apnea. An increased pulmonary artery diameter was found in 10/20 patients (50%) with obstructive sleep apnea. This nding was evident in only 6/17 (14%) patients without apnea. The authors concluded that in patients with systemic sclerosis, obstructive sleep apnea is associated with an increased risk of pulmonary hypertension, regardless of lung parenchymal involvement, with an odds ratio (OR) of 4.7 (95% CI: 1.06–20.88) [48].
Two additional studies found that the prevalence of obstructive sleep apnea (dened as AHI 5/h) in patients with systemic sclerosis is approximately 50%. One of these studies included 38 patients with interstitial lung disease. The other study included 39 patients, nding no relationship between interstitial lung disease and obstructive sleep apnea [10, 49].
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Obstructive sleep apnea is a frequent manifestation in patients with systemic sclerosis, both in the diffuse and the limited variants. It most likely contributes to pulmonary hypertension and does not seem to correlate with interstitial lung dis­ease. The diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea should be part of the comprehensive management of patients with systemic sclerosis.
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8.10 Obstructive Sleep Apnea inSystemic Vasculitides
The vasculitides are a highly heterogeneous group of low-prevalence diseases char­acterized by the inammation of the blood vessel wall and occlusion of the vascular lumen with subsequent tissue ischemia. The clinical manifestations of vasculitides are highly diverse. Except for Behçet’s disease, no studies were found on obstruc­tive sleep apnea.
A retrospective study in Taiwan included 1221 patients diagnosed with Behçet’s disease and followed up between January 1, 2002, and December 31, 2011. The control group consisted of 4884 individuals without autoimmune diseases. Polysomnography was used to diagnose sleep apnea. After adjusting for age, sex and comorbidities, the incidence of obstructive sleep apnea was signicantly higher in patients with Behçet’s disease than in controls (1.23% and 0.33%, respectively). The risk of developing obstructive sleep apnea was found to be increased, with an aHR of 1.99 (95% CI: 1.06–3.72) [12].
Tascilar et al. studied 51 patients with Behçet’s disease without neurological involvement and compared them with 21 healthy controls. Polysomnography was performed on 40 Behçet patients and all controls. The AHI was signicantly higher in Behçet patients than in the control group. However, when patients with active and inactive Behçet’s disease were compared, no difference was found in the frequency of sleep alterations [50].
Obstructive sleep apnea is more frequent in patients with Behçet’s disease than in the general population, although it does not seem to worsen disease activity or be caused by it. Likewise, it seems evident that obstructive sleep apnea contributes to Behçet patients’ fatigue and impaired quality of life. The correct diagnosis and treatment of obstructive sleep apnea should be part of the comprehensive manage­ment of patients with Behçet’s disease.
8.11 Conclusions andFuture Perspectives
Obstructive sleep apnea is more frequent in patients with systemic autoimmune diseases than in the general population. Sleep disorders may be partially responsible for fatigue and impaired quality of life in patients with autoimmune diseases, high­lighting the need to actively assess the presence of these disorders. Current treat­ment does not differ from that used in patients without autoimmune diseases (sleep
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hygiene, avoiding certain medications, losing weight, postural measures and posi­tive pressure devices). An adequate understanding of the complex pathophysiologi­cal mechanisms (still to be determined) will allow for better treatment of autoimmune diseases and sleep disorders.
Take-Home Message
• Patients with systemic autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis, anky-
losing spondylitis, inammatory myopathies, Sjogren’s syndrome, systemic
lupus erythematosus, systemic sclerosis, and vasculitides suffer from obstructive
sleep apnea more frequently than the general population.
• There are common pathophysiological pathways between obstructive sleep
apnea and systemic autoimmune diseases (activation of transcription factors and
induction of the transcription of genes related to the production of proinamma-
tory cytokines).
• Early diagnosis and timely treatment of sleep disorders in patients with autoim-
mune diseases will improve their quality of life and long-term prognosis.
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