Hemostasis parameters disturbances in healthy individuals with prehypertension.

Prehypertension (PH) seems to be related to increased cardiovascular risk in healthy normotensive subjects, while essential hypertension is associated with hemostasis balance disturbances. The aim of our study was to examine the impact of PH on hemostasis parameters in healthy individuals with PH and to compare the findings with those of healthy normotensives with normal blood pressure (NBP) levels. This study was performed in 204 (96 M, 108 F) subjects who attended our hypertension clinic. Seventy-eight (36 M, 42 F) subjects with PH, mean age 52 ± 5 years, and body mass index (BMI) 23 ± 1.5 kg/m2 made up group A, and 126 (60 M, 66 F) subjects with NBP, mean age 53 ± 6 years, and BMI 23.2 ± 1.4 kg/m2 without any history of cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus made up group B. Systolic blood pressure and diastolic blood pressure were measured in three sequential visits, which were performed by the same trained nurse. Serum lipid levels, fibrinogen (F), thrombomodulin (TM), and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen, and tissue plasminogen activator antigen were determined in the whole population. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen and tissue plasminogen activator antigen levels were significantly higher in the PH group as compared with normotensives, while in PH subjects, significantly higher plasma levels of F and TM were found compared with normotensive group. The two groups were matched for age, sex, BMI, and serum lipid levels. Our findings indicate that PH is associated with hemostasis disturbances predisposing to hypercoagulability and impaired fibrinolysis. This observation may be of prognostic value for future cardiovascular events in this group and needs further investigation.

Human soluble leptin receptor concentration in healthy offspring of hypertensive parents.

Essential hypertension is associated with increased plasma leptin levels and decreased human soluble leptin receptor (hsLR) concentration. The aim of this study was to determine whether the concentration of hsLR differs among offspring of hypertensive compared with nonhypertensive parents. Subjects in the 2 groups were matched for age, sex, and body mass index. Forty-six (24 male, 22 female; mean age, 18+/-3 years; body mass index, 22.4+/-1.4 kg/m2) healthy offspring of hypertensive parents (group A) and 50 (28 male, 22 female; mean age, 18+/-3.2 years; body mass index, 22.6+/-1.7 kg/m2) healthy offspring of healthy parents (group B) were studied. The hsLR concentration (enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay method) and leptin plasma levels (radioimmunoassay method) were determined in the study population. Plasma leptin levels were significantly higher (10+/-5 vs 6+/-3 ng/mL; P<.001), while hsLR concentration was significantly lower (20+/-7 vs 29+/-8 U/mL; P<.001) in group A compared with group B. Our findings suggest that offspring of hypertensive parents have significantly higher plasma leptin levels and significantly lower hsLR concentrations compared with healthy offspring of healthy normotensive parents. Further studies are needed to determine the clinical significance of these observations.

Masked hypertension and atherogenesis: the impact on adiponectin and resistin plasma levels.

Recent evidence suggests that masked hypertension (MH) is a predictor of cardiovascular disease and that hypoadiponectinemia and hyperesistinemia may contribute to chronic inflammatory process, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, and accelerated atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to examine the adiponectin and resistin plasma levels in patients with MH and compare the findings with those of healthy normotensive persons matched for age, sex, body mass index, and other risk factors. Overall, 130 (60 men and 70 women) healthy persons (mean age, 45+/-12 years) who had clinic blood pressure values <140/90 mm Hg were studied. The study population underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). According to the ABPM recordings, 24 individuals (8 men and 16 women) had MH (daytime systolic blood pressure >or=135 mm Hg or daytime diastolic blood pressure >or=85 mm Hg; group A) and the remaining 106 participants (52 men and 54 women) had normal ABPM findings (group B). Adiponectin and resistin plasma levels were determined in both groups by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Significantly higher (P<.01) resistin levels (12+/-4 vs 6.8+/-3.6 ng/mL) were found in group A compared with group B, while the adiponectin plasma levels were significantly lower (P<.01) in group A compared with group B (6+/-2.3 vs 11+/-2.7 microg/mL). Findings suggest that patients with MH have lower adiponectin levels and higher resistin levels compared with normotensive individuals. This observation may have prognostic significance for future cardiovascular events in patients with MH.