Plasma homocysteine levels in Indian patients with essential hypertension and their siblings.
BACKGROUND
An association between plasma homocysteine and essential hypertension and their non-hypertensive siblings is controversial.


RESULTS
Plasma homocysteine levels were measured in subjects with essential hypertension (n = 50), their normotensive siblings (n = 50) and normotensive controls (n = 50). All the subjects were non-diabetic, had no past history of myocardial infarction, stroke or peripheral vascular disease and had normal renal functions. The mean homocysteine values were 18.96 +/- 8.08 micromol/L in patients, 14.84 +/- 5.55 micromol/L in siblings and 10.50 +/- 4.92 micromol/L in controls. Plasma homocysteine level were found to be significantly higher in patients with hypertension (p < 0.0001) and their normotensive siblings (p < 0.0001) when compared to controls. Also patients with hypertension had their higher plasma homocysteine levels compared to their siblings (p < 0.0036).


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma homocysteine levels are significantly elevated in Indian patients with essential hypertension and their normotensive siblings. Thus, plasma homocysteine may serve as a marker for the development of essential hypertension.
Jain
S
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research, Chandigarh, India. drsjain@glide.net.in
Ram
Hari
H
Kumari
Savita
S
Khullar
Madhu
M
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006710:Homocysteine / Q000097:blood*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000235:genetics; D007194:India; D008074:Lipoproteins / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors; D035781:Siblings; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood
D008074:Lipoproteins; D014280:Triglycerides; D006710:Homocysteine; D002784:Cholesterol