Objective  To identify the effects of  obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome   (OSAHS) on serum levels of macrophage inflammatory protein-1α (MIP-1α) and  high-sensitivity c-reactive protein  (hs-CRP)

and impact on cardiac structure and function in patients with hypertension (HT).   Methods  Polysomnography (PSG) was employed to determine OSAHS

and HT was verified by cardiovascular methods. Totally 86 middle-aged subjects admitted in our hospital from April to December 2008 were classified into 4 groups according to the absence or presence of OSAHS and with or without HT

OSAHS patients without HT (OSAHS group

n=29)

OSAHS patients with HT (OSAHS+HT group

n=27)

non-OSAHS patients with HT (HT group

n=27)

and health volunteers without OSAHS or HT (control subjects

n=27). OSAHS patients were divided into mild

moderate and severe degree based on apnea hypopnea index (AHI). All participants underwent polysomnography and echocardiography. Serum MIP-1α and hs-CRP levels were tested by enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA).   Results  Systolic

diastolic blood pressure (SBP

DBP) and pulse pressure difference (PP) in HT group and OSAHS+HT group were significantly higher than those in OSAHS group. Comparing with control group

the E velocity (EV) was significant decreased and A velocity (AV) was increased significantly in OSAHS

OSAHS+HT and HT groups (P0.05). Serum MIP-1α levels in OSAHS+HT group was significant higher than HT groups (P0.05). Serum MIP-1α levels in those 3 groups were  negatively correlated with AV (r=-0.238

P=0.08) and positively correlated with E/A ratio (r=0.307

P=0.02).   Conclusion  We have not found the cardiac systolic function change in early OSAHS patients with HT

while the diastolic function is decreased obviously. Serum MIP-1α level shows earlier change than hs-CRP level in OSAHS patients

which may contribute to the lesion of cardiac     diastolic function.