A Short Term Open, Randomized Cross-over Trial Exploring the Effect of Carbonic Anhydrase Inhibition by Acetazolamide on Sleep Apnea Associated Hypertension and Vascular Dysfunction

This is a short term open, randomized cross over trial to explore and compare the efficacy of pharmacological carbonic anhydrase (CA) inhibition on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) related hypertension. Patients will be randomized to receive Acetazolamide(Diamox®)(ACZ), Continuous Positive Airway Pressure (CPAP)or CPAP plus ACZ for 2 weeks. Following a 2 week wash-out period all study participants will receive the alternative treatment regimen. The total length of the study will be 10 weeks. The effects of carbonic anhydrase inhibition on blood pressure,hemodynamics and sleep apnea will be investigated. Study hypothesis: Carbonic anhydrase inhibition alone or in combination with nCPAP will prominently reduce blood pressure in patients with OSA. Further it is hypothesized that CA inhibition will induce a direct pharmacological effects on vascular stiffness as evidenced in overnight non-invasive assessments of vascular stiffness and that this effect will be particularly strong in patients also responding with a reduction of blood pressure.