C-reactive protein is elevated in the offspring of parents with essential hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Hypertension is a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD). Studies in adults have shown that high sensitivity C-reactive protein (CRP) levels are associated with increased risk of CVD and essential hypertension (EHT). Genetic background is widely accepted as a risk factor for CVD. The aim of the present study was to analyse the association of high sensitivity CRP levels with other cardiovascular risk factors in children and young adults with at least one parent with EHT.


METHODS
Fifty one healthy children and young adults (28 boys) with at least one parent with hypertension and 69 (41 boys) whose parents did not have hypertension were recruited prospectively from primary care centres. High sensitivity CRP, fasting lipid profile, blood pressure (BP) and anthropometric variables were obtained for all participants.


RESULTS
CRP values were higher in the study group than in controls (logCRP mean difference: -0.69; 95% confidence interval: -1.05 to -0.33), even when differences were adjusted for age, gender, body mass index (BMI) and triglyceride levels (p = 0.01). No differences were observed in BP values between groups. In the study group, 35.3% of the participants had a CRP level > or =1 mg/l compared to 14.5% in the control group (p = 0.009). CRP showed a significant correlation with body weight (rho = 0.28, p = 0.04), BMI (rho = 0.32; p = 0.02) and ponderosity index (rho = 0.28; p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
CRP is significantly higher in the offspring of parents with EHT. A significant positive relationship exists between BMI and serum CRP levels in this high risk group of children and young adults.
Díaz
Juan Jose
JJ
Departamento de Pediatría, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain.
Arguelles
Juan
J
Málaga
Ignacio
I
Perillán
Carmen
C
Diéguez
Angeles
A
Vijande
Manuel
M
Málaga
Serafín
S
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000886:Anthropometry; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000235:genetics; D015992:Body Mass Index; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000235:genetics*; D008055:Lipids / Q000097:blood; D008297:Male; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors
D015415:Biomarkers; D008055:Lipids; D002097:C-Reactive Protein