Histopathology of uvula in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome with different degrees of severity

Abstract

Introduction Obstructive sleep apnea syndrome (SOAS) is characterized by upper airway obstructions that occur repeatedly during sleep and cause breathing to stop for more than 10 seconds. Purpose Research of histopathological changes in patients with SOAS depending on the degree of severity. Material and methods The study was performed in 20 patients diagnosed with SOAS of different severity, operated in the ENT clinic, where the fragments of the incised uvula were examined histopathologically. Contol data on the histopathology of the normotrophic uvula was taked from literature (G.Berger, 2002; E.P.Hamans et al., 2000). Results The results of the histopathological examination depending on the severity of SOAS showed on : mild form - the integrated stratified squamous epithelium of the uvula was noted by the presence of small outbreaks of parakeratosis. The own lamella and the submucosal lamina had a total thickness of 1.44 ± 0.03 mm; moderate form - the total thickness was 1,603 ± 0.07 mm, which was significantly higher than in the case of patients with mild form; severe form - the total thickness of the own blade of the mucous and submucosal layer was 1,635 ± 0.064 mm. Conclusions The research showed that in patients with SOAS, there are morphological changes in the uvula. The main the "displacement" of the muscular layer at the base of the uvula. Congestion, the surface of the epithelium of the mucous glands and chronic inflammation influence the severity of SOAS.