Antiendothelial cell antibody levels in healthy normotensives with high normal blood pressure.
High normal blood pressure (HNBP) seems to be related to an increased cardiovascular risk in healthy normotensive subjects. According to the literature, elevated levels of antibodies against endothelial cell surface antigen antiendothelial cell antibodies (AECA) play an important role in the early stages of atherosclerosis process and in borderline hypertension. The aim of this study was to compare AECA levels of healthy normotensives with HNBP to those of healthy normotensives with normal blood pressure (NBP), matched for age, sex, and body mass index (BMI).


METHODS
Ninety healthy normotensives with HNBP (43M, 47F; mean age, 48 +/- 2.6 yrs; BMI 23.6 +/- 1.5 Kg/m2) (Group A) and 80 healthy normotensives with NBP (41M, 39F; mean age, 46 +/- 3 yrs; BMI 24 +/- 1.8 Kg/m2) (Group B) were studied. Both group subjects were matched for sex, age, and BMI. AECA levels were determined in each subject using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). AECA levels were expressed as mean values.


RESULTS
Twenty-five subjects from group A (28%) showed elevated IgG antiendothelial cell antibodies levels vs. three from group B (3.75%, p < 0.001). IgM AECA levels were elevated in 18 subjects from group A (20%) vs. two from group B (1.5%, p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings suggest that healthy normotensives with HNBP have significantly higher AECA levels of both classes (IgG, IgM) compared to healthy normotensives with NBP. This may have prognostic significance for the future development of essential hypertension in this group of healthy subjects.
Papadopoulos
D P
DP
Department of Cardiology, Laiko Hospital, Athens, Greece. jimpapdoc@yahoo.com
Makris
Th K
TK
Krespi
P
P
Papazachou
U
U
Stavroulakis
G
G
Hatzizacharias
A
A
Votteas
V
V
D001323:Autoantibodies / Q000097:blood*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
D001323:Autoantibodies; C087589:anti-endothelial cell antibody