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. 2015 Feb;50(2):187-95.
doi: 10.1002/ppul.23005. Epub 2014 Feb 24.

Detection of common respiratory viruses in tonsillar tissue of children with obstructive sleep apnea

Keren Yeshuroon-Koffler  1 , Yonat Shemer-Avni, Ayelet Keren-Naus, Aviv D Goldbart
Affiliations

Detection of common respiratory viruses in tonsillar tissue of children with obstructive sleep apnea

Keren Yeshuroon-Koffler et al. Pediatr Pulmonol. 2015 Feb.

Abstract

Background: Early life viral infection is associated with neurogenic inflammation that is present in lymphoid tissues of the upper airway in children with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA). We hypothesized that viral genomic material is present in tonsils of children with OSA. Therefore, we examined tonsils for the presence of respiratory viruses' nucleic acids in children with OSA, and in children without OSA (undergoing surgery for recurrent throat infections (RI)).

Methods: Tonsillar tissue from patients with OSA and RI was subjected to multiplex quantitative real time reverse transcription PCR (mqRTPCR), analyzed for the presence of common respiratory viruses' genetic material.

Results: Fifty-six patients were included, of whom 34 had OSA (age (years ± S.D), 4.22 ± 1.14) and 22 with RI (4.35 ± 1.36). Respiratory viruses nucleic acids (24 detections) were observed in 17 (50%) OSA samples. In contrast, no virus was detected in RI samples (relative frequency P<0.0001). Viruses detected, based on frequency were Rhinovirus, Adenovirus, human metapneumovirus (hMPV), respiratory syncytial virus (RSV), and corona virus.

Conclusions: Respiratory viruses are detected in OSA hypertrophic tonsils, suggestive of their role in the evolution of tonsillar inflammation and hypertrophy. Early life viral infections may contribute to the pathogenesis of pediatric OSA.

Keywords: OSA; RSV; inflammation; virus.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Prevalence of viral genomes in OSA versus RI. Virus detection occurred only in OSA samples (50.0%), and in none of the RI samples. (P < 0.001).
Figure 2
Figure 2
Single, dual and quadruple (4) infections in tonsils of OSA patients. Most of the patients (76.2%) had one virus detected.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Types of virus detection by mqRTPCT in tonsills of patients with OSA. Only Influenza and parainfluenza viruses were not detected.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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