ABSTRACT
AIM: To study morphofunctional features of the upper airways (UAW) in wakeful patients (juveniles with arterial hypertension stage I) and genetic predisposition to UAW obstruction in sleeping patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The examination of 18 juveniles with arterial hypertension stage I and II normotensive juveniles included measurements of body mass index (BMI), circumference of the neck (CN), conduction of lateral cephalometry, MR imaging of UAW tissues, evaluation of nasal breathing, smoking habits and collection of family disease history. All the patients were examined by otorhinolaryngologist. RESULTS: Hypertensive juveniles appeared to have significantly higher values of BMI, CN, ANB, NAPg angles, distance between the hyoid bone and the mandible, anteroposterior tongue length in lateral projection, less values of SNPg angle (p < 0.05). Relatives of hypertensive juveniles had significantly greater prevalence of hypertension, snoring and their combination. CONCLUSION: In arterial hypertension there are some anatomofunctional grounds to UAW resistance in sleep. In addition to hereditary predisposition to hypertension, this may underlie development of wakeful systemic hypertension.
