Increased basal concentrations of plasma endothelin in borderline hypertension.
BACKGROUND
There is evidence for an altered endothelial function in established hypertension but little is known about endothelial function in borderline hypertension. It has also been suggested that the early stages of hypertension are characterized by an increased sympathetic drive.


OBJECTIVE
To investigate whether alterations in endothelin, neuropeptide Y (NPY) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) are already present in the borderline hypertensive stage.


METHODS
A case-control study of age-matched men recruited from a population screening programme.


METHODS
Seventy-five men with stable borderline hypertension [diastolic blood pressure (DBP), 85-94 mmHg] and 75 age- and sex-matched normotensive controls (DBP < or = 80 mmHg) were investigated. Plasma samples were drawn in a standardized fashion, and extracted and analysed using competitive radio immunoassays.


RESULTS
Basal concentrations of NPY and CGRP were similar in the two groups (28.4 versus 26.7 pmol/l and 24.2 versus 21.7 pmol/l, respectively). Basal concentrations of endothelin were significantly higher in the borderline hypertensive group (2.0 versus 1.5 pmol/l, P < 0.0001).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that a disturbed endothelial function, represented by endothelin, could be involved in the early hypertensive processes. They also suggest that these changes could be present before the basal sympathetic/parasympathetic drive alters, warranting further research into this area.
Department of Medicine, Karolinska Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden.
C E
CE
Lemne
T
T
Lundeberg
E
E
Theodorsson
U
U
de Faire
D000328:Adult; D002116:Calcitonin / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D016232:Endothelins / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009478:Neuropeptide Y / Q000097:blood* / Q000652:urine; D011863:Radioimmunoassay
D016232:Endothelins; D009478:Neuropeptide Y; D002116:Calcitonin