Sleep Deprivation and Endothelial Function

Background: Epidemiological studies have demonstrated an association between sleep deprivation (SD) and ischemic heart disease. Objectives: To determine the effect of SD on the endothelial function and on the inflammatory profile of young healthy men following 24 hours of work without sleep. Methods: Fourteen healthy men (age 31.3 ± 2.4 years) participated in our prospective study. Endothelial function was evaluated by the brachial artery method, measuring flow medicated percent change (FMD%) of the brachial artery by a linear array ultrasound early in the morning. Interleukin 1 (IL-1) and interleukin 6 (IL-6) were measured in saliva by ELISA. Results: Basic FMD% was 6.7 ± 6.8%, and following SD 3.3% ± 1.7 (P = 0.009). A 5.0 ± 6.1% decrease was measured after SD. IL-1 levels increased after SD from 36 ± 21 pg/ml to 47 ± 24 pg/ml (P = 0.004), and IL-6 levels increased from 22 ± 07 pg/ml to 36 ± 11 pg/ml (P = 0.0005). A negative correlation was found between the change (decrease) in FMD% and the change (increase) in IL-1 level (r =-0.813; P = 0.001). A negative correlation was found between the decrease in FMD% and the increase in IL-6 level (r =-0.735; P = 0.003). Conclusions: SD led to endothelial dysfunction with increase in markers of inflammation (IL-1 and IL-6), with an inverse correlation between the change (decrease) in endothelial function and the change (increase) in IL-1 and in IL-6.