Gender-related differences in adolescent hypertension and in target organ effects.
OBJECTIVE
To assess whether a gender difference exists in adolescent hypertension and its target organ damage and to compare potential confounding factors and target organ damage in hypertensive and normotensive adolescent girls.


METHODS
From the Debrecen Hypertension Study, the anthropometric, blood pressure, and laboratory data as well as intima-media thickness (IMT) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) of 58 hypertensive boys, 56 hypertensive girls, and 30 normotensive girls were analyzed.


RESULTS
Both systolic and mean blood pressure values were higher in adolescent hypertensive boys than in girls. This difference was also present when comparing 24-hour average blood pressure values. Plasma concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 were not different in the two gender groups. IMT of the carotid arteries were similar in hypertensive boys and girls, but a significantly higher LVMI was detected in boys. A significant difference was detected in anthropometric data (height, weight, and body mass index [BMI]), plasma concentration of NO (lower levels in hypertensives), and IMT in hypertensive and normotensive girls (higher IMT in hypertensive girls).


CONCLUSIONS
There is a difference between the severity of hypertension between hypertensive adolescent girls and boys. Hypertensive girls differ from normotensive girls not only in blood pressure values but also in risk factors and subclinical target organ effects. Further studies are needed to explain the gender differences in adolescent hypertension. The potential role of sex hormones in hypertensive teenagers also needs to be clarified in future works.
Juhász
Mária
M
1st Department of Medicine, University of Debrecen , Health and Medical Science Center, Debrecen, Hungary.
Katona
Eva
E
Settakis
Georgios
G
Paragh
György
G
Molnár
Csilla
C
Fülesdi
Béla
B
Páll
Dénes
D
D000293:Adolescent; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000097:blood; D017064:Process Assessment, Health Care; D012307:Risk Factors; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D012737:Sex Factors; D017539:Tunica Intima / Q000473:pathology; D017540:Tunica Media / Q000473:pathology
D019332:Endothelin-1; D009569:Nitric Oxide