Circulating phospholipase-A2 activity in obstructive sleep apnea and recurrent tonsillitis

ObjectivePhospholipase A2 (PLA2) plays a major part in growth regulation, differentiation and inflammation. It has been proposed as an evaluating marker for infection and inflammation. The aim of this study was to investigate activity of serum type II secretory PLA2 (sPLA2 IIa) in obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and recurrent infective tonsillitis (RT) in children.MethodsActivity of serum sPLA2 IIa was determined in children who underwent tonsillectomy, including OSA in 126 cases and RT in 60. Serum enzyme activities were measured using the standard assay with Diheptanoyl Thio-Phosphatidylcholin as substrate.ResultsThe sPLA2 IIa activity of serum was significantly higher in RT than in OSA (P < 0.01). Serum sPLA2 IIa activity in the RT patients was positively correlated with BMI (r = 0.26; P = 0.02), which was not apparent in OSA (r = 0.14; P = 0.09).ConclusionThis study suggests that serum sPLA2 IIa activity may be considered as a supportive diagnostic marker in suspected or clinically unclear cases of RT children.