title: Free leptin is associated with masked hypertension in nonobese subjects: a cross-sectional study.
abstract: The aim of the study was to investigate whether diverse clinical blood pressure phenotypes are associated with free leptin surrogates, as reflected by plasma leptin, human soluble leptin receptor, and their ratio (ie, free leptin index) in nonobese normoglycemic subjects. Three separate clinic blood pressure measurements and ambulatory blood pressure monitoring were implemented to divide 494 subjects (aged 44+/-5 years; 272 men; body mass index: <30 kg/m(2)) into hypertensives (n=166), white-coat hypertensives (n=82), masked hypertensives (n=66), and normotensives (n=180). Participants underwent echocardiography, while, from fasting venous blood samples, metabolic profile, plasma leptin, and its receptor levels were assessed. Hypertensives and masked hypertensives demonstrated higher levels of log (10)(leptin) and log (10)(free leptin index), as well as lower levels of log (10)(human soluble leptin receptor) with respect to normotensives. White-coat hypertensives had similar free leptin surrogates compared with normotensives. Younger age, 24-hour systolic and diastolic blood pressures, 24-hour heart rate, and left ventricle mass index were common correlates of free leptin surrogates. After adjustment for confounders, masked hypertensive and hypertensive with respect to normotensive phenotype were associated with log (10)(leptin) with odds ratios (95% CIs) of 1.31 (1.12 to 3.80) and 1.26 (1.09 to 2.24), respectively, log (10)(human soluble leptin receptor) with 0.65 (0.53 to 0.78) and 0.69 (0.57 to 0.84), respectively, and log (10)(free leptin index) with 2.46 (1.32 to 7.23) and 1.84 (1.26 to 3.73), respectively (P<0.05 for all of the cases). Free leptin surrogates are associated with masked hypertension in nonobese normoglycemic subjects. Free leptin is almost equally increased in masked and sustained hypertension, suggesting a similar leptin-related vascular impairment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Elena Venizelou Hospital, Athens, Greece. thokos@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Costas
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Thomopoulos
authors.forename: Dimitris P
authors.initials: DP
authors.lastname: Papadopoulos
authors.forename: Ourania
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Papazachou
authors.forename: Athanassios
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Bratsas
authors.forename: Spiros
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Massias
authors.forename: Georgios
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Anastasiadis
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Perrea
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Makris
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001795:Blood Pressure Determination / Q000379:methods; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D015992:Body Mass Index; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D015150:Echocardiography, Doppler; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology; D020738:Leptin / Q000097:blood* / Q000378:metabolism; D016014:Linear Models; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D011336:Probability; D012016:Reference Values; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D016277:Ventricular Function, Left / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D020738:Leptin