Endothelial function in young men with essential hypertension

Abstract

The aim of the study was to evaluate the association between markers of endothelial function and arterial hypertension (AH). We measured the plasma level of nitrite and nitrate and flow-mediated vasodilatation of the brachial artery (endothelium dependent) in 148 men with AH and 32 healthy men in age 18-24 years. The low level of nitrite was found in 140 patients with AH compared with control group (odds ratio 29, 2; 95 %CI [9, 6-92, 1]). Flow-mediated vasodilatation of the brachial artery was measured in 126 men with AH and it was impaired in 66 men (70,2 % ) (odds ratio 7, 1; 95 %CI [2, 6-19. 7]). There is no significant difference between groups in endothelium independent vasodilatation to nitroglycerin. Endothelial dysfunction was documented in patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy. Logistic regression analysis using AH as a dependent variable revealed a statistically significant association with nitrite (p=0, 02), flow-mediated vasodilatation (p=0, 046) and genetically predisposition to arterial hypertension.

Keywords

• arterial hypertension
• nitrite
• endothelial dysfunction
• doppler ultrasound