PECAM1 and obstructive sleep apnea syndrome: This relationship is one mechanism that links OSA and accelerated atherosclerosis, and increased levels of circulating EMVs may underlie the altered endothelial function and coagulation homeostasis in OSA.24, 57 However, 2 research groups found no increase in CD31+/CD41− or CD146+ EMVs in OSA patients, which may be due to differences in EMV subpopulations and population differences.8, 58