Abstract: Aim This study was to investigate the association of Angiotensin Ⅱ type 1 receptor （AT 1 R） gene A/C 1166 polymorphism with the structure and function of heart and carotid artery in essential hypertensive （EH） elderly. Methods The A/C 1166 polymorphism of AT 1 R gene was assessed by polymerase chain reaction restriction fragment length polymorphism （PCR RFLP） in a case control study of 87 EH and 55 normortensive elders. Left ventricular mass （LVM）,left ventricular mass index（LVMI） were measured by two dimensional and M mode echocardiography. The diameter and intima media thickness（IMT） of carotid artey were measured by B mode ultrasound. Results （1） The function of C1166 allele in EH elderly was higher than in normortensive elderly （0 115 vs 0 036, P ＜0 05）. （2） No statistically significant difference of cardiac structure and function was found in patiants of different genotypes. （3） No statistically significant differences of structure and function of carotid artery of EH was found in patients of different genotypes. Conclusion The results indicate that A/C1166 polymorphism of AT 1 R gene is associated with EH in elderly. The frequency of C 1166 allele was higher in EH elders than in nomortensive elders. No relationship between the cardiovascular structure and function and A/C1166 polymorphism of AT 1 R gene in EH elderly was found.