[Hyperleptinemia as a risk factor in obesity-related hypertension].
OBJECTIVE
Obesity is a risk factor for high blood pressure (HBP). However, the mechanism has not been dilucidated yet. High concentrations of leptin (LEP) contributing to an increased blood pressure in obese patients via increase in the activity of the sympathetic nervous system. We explored the physiopathologic role of hyperleptinemia in HBP with regard to obesity.


METHODS
Prospective and comparative study. Between February 2001 and December 2002, we studied 499 subjects, 255 with HBP and 244 without hypertension. The relationship between weight, LEP, insulin, and serum lipids with blood pressure was assessed.


RESULTS
Patients with HBP versus patients without HBP had a higher body mass index (30.4 +/- 3.9 to 25.5 +/- 1.7 kg/m2) (p < 0.01), higher serum concentrations of: creatinine (0.99 +/- 0.16 to 0.88 +/- 0.16 mg/dl), total cholesterol (219.5 +/- 50.4 to 190.6 +/- 40.0 mg/dl), cLDL (126.9 +/- 52.2 to 108.3 +/- 53.3 mg/dl), triglycerides (221.1 +/- 123.8 to 164.5 +/- 86.5 mg/dl), LEP (14.9 +/- 8.4 to 6.7 +/- 3.5 ng/ml) and insulin (24.2 +/- 6.5 to 16.8 +/- 4.7 mU/ml) (p < 0.01). In the univariate and multivariate analysis, obesity, dyslipidemia, hyperleptinemia and hyperinsulinemia were independent risk factors for HBP (p < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
We suggest that hyperleptinemia has a direct role in the physiopathologic mechanism of obesity-associated HBP, and it could be considered as an independent risk factor for HBP and cardiovascular disease.
Alvarez-Aguilar
Cleto
C
Unidad de Investigación en Epidemiología Clínica, HGR No. 1 IMSS, Morelia, Michoacán, Mexico. calvareza@yahoo.com.mx
Mondragón-Jiménez
Lourdes I
LI
Ramírez-Enríquez
Jesús
J
Gómez-García
Anel
A
Paniagua-Sierra
Ramón
R
Amato
Dante
D
D001774:Blood Chemical Analysis; D015992:Body Mass Index; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications* / Q000503:physiopathology; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D020738:Leptin