Exaggerated blood pressure response to exercise is associated with inflammatory markers.
OBJECTIVE
An exaggerated blood pressure (EBP) response to exercise has been shown to be a predictor of future hypertension and risk of cardiovascular mortality. Although EBP is associated with endothelial dysfunction and increased left ventricular hypertrophy, the underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Inflammatory markers, C-reactive protein (CRP) and white blood cells (WBCs), were predictive of future hypertension. The objective of this study was to examine the hypothesis that increasing levels of CRP and WBCs would be related to an EBP response during exercise.


METHODS
Inflammatory markers were compared in 43 males with an EBP (systolic blood pressure [SBP] >or=210 mm Hg) response during maximal treadmill testing to an age and resting SBP-matched group of 42 males with a normal blood pressure response to exercise.


RESULTS
There were significant group differences in maximal SBP and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), exercise induced increases in SBP and DBP (P <.01), and WBCs (P <.01), but CRP did not differ between groups (P =.39). White blood cells were significantly associated with maximal SBP (r = 0.31), and the exercise-induced increase in SBP (r = 0.34). However, CRP did not correlate with the maximal blood pressure response to exercise (r = 0.11, P =.33). In a stepwise multiple regression analysis, WBC was independently associated with the exercise-induced increase in SBP (beta = 0.256, P =.011).


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest that inflammation may be associated with an EBP response during exercise testing.
Jae
Sae Young
SY
Exercise and Cardiovascular Research Laboratory, Department of Kinesiology, University of Illinois, Urbana-Champaign, 61820, USA.
Fernhall
Bo
B
Lee
Miyoung
M
Heffernan
Kevin S
KS
Lee
Moon-Kyu
MK
Choi
Yoon-Ho
YH
Hong
Kyung Pyo
KP
Park
Won Hah
WH
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000378:metabolism*; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL / Q000097:blood*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005080:Exercise Test; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology; D007249:Inflammation / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D007962:Leukocytes / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies
D015415:Biomarkers; D008076:Cholesterol, HDL; D002097:C-Reactive Protein