Cardiovascular function in normotensive offspring of persons with essential hypertension and black race.
Prior investigations have shown impaired endothelial function in hypertensive blacks when compared with whites. It is not clear, however, whether the difference in vascular responsiveness predates or follows the development of hypertension. Thirty-nine young black adults with a family history of essential hypertension and 41 control participants were studied for brachial artery reactivity and carotid intima-media thickness via ultrasonography, cardiac muscle mass and diastolic function by echocardiography, and biochemical analysis. There was no significant difference in brachial artery reactivity between the study groups, although women had greater reactivity than men (P=.05). Carotid intima-media thickness, left ventricular geometry, and biomarkers were equivalent between the study groups (P=not significant). Vascular imaging and biomarkers were unable to identify early evidence of endothelial dysfunction in offspring of African Americans with essential hypertension. These same studies demonstrated some early changes in vascular function based on sex.
Mohler
Emile R
ER
Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, Philadelphia, PA, USA. mohlere@uphs.upenn.edu
O'Hare
Kitty
K
Darze
Eduardo S
ES
Townsend
Raymond R
RR
Bridges
Charles R
CR
Keane
Martin G
MG
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D044383:Black People / Q000235:genetics*; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000503:physiopathology; D016893:Carotid Stenosis / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D004452:Echocardiography; D018618:Echocardiography, Doppler, Color; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D005260:Female; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease / Q000235:genetics; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D017379:Hypertrophy, Left Ventricular / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D005996:Nitroglycerin; D012016:Reference Values; D012737:Sex Factors; D014463:Ultrasonography; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology*; D001741:Black or African American
D015415:Biomarkers; D005996:Nitroglycerin