FIG. 22:  Another manifestation of inflammation seen in patients with sleep apnea is an increased level of C-reactive protein (CRP).  This Figure shows data from control subjects with similar BMI levels and patients with obstructive apnea.^[10]  It shows that the apneic patients have higher CRP levels than the controlled subjects.  The reasons for these higher CRP levels in sleep apnea are not clear, but they may be linked to a combination of sleep deprivation and intermittent hypoxemia.