Abstract: Objective To explore the role of C-reactive protein in the relationship between obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome(OSAHS) and coronary heart disease(CHD). Methods The levels of serum C-reactive protein(CRP) in 31 OSAHS patients with CHD, 31 OSAHS patients without CHD and 28 healthy controls was examined, and the relationship of the CRP concentration with the polysomnogram parameters was analyzed. Results The levels of serum CRP in OSAHS patients with CHD and OSAHS patients without CHD were significantly higher compared with the healthy controls(P<0.05). The level of CRP was also significantly higher in OSAHS patients with CHD than that in OSAHS patients without CHD(P<0.05). Conclusion The high level of serum CRP might be an important risk factor for the development of CHD in OSAHS patients.

Key words: obstructive sleep apnea-hypopnea syndrome, coronary heart disease, C-reactive protein