High level of plasma endothelin-1 predicts development of hypertension in normotensive subjects.
BACKGROUND
Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a potent vasoconstrictor derived from the endothelium. However, most large scale cross-sectional studies in humans have indicated no relationship between plasma ET-1 levels and hypertension. The present study was designed to determine whether high plasma ET-1 levels predict the development of hypertension.


METHODS
A total of 1,492 subjects received a health examination in the Japanese cohort of Seven Countries Study in 1999, when, we examined blood pressure (BP), body mass index (BMI), and blood chemistries. Data on fasting ET-1 were obtained from 1,451 individuals. Seven years later, 1,261 subjects (494 males and 767 females) were re-examined (follow-up rate = 87%).


RESULTS
Of 814 normotensives (BP <140/90 mm Hg without antihypertensive medications) at baseline, 222 subjects developed hypertension. We divided the baseline plasma ET-1 levels into quartiles. The odds ratio for the development of hypertension after 7 years was 1.79 (95% confidence interval (CI): 1.08-2.96) in the highest quartile vs. the lowest quartile of ET-1 level after adjustment for confounding factors.


CONCLUSIONS
A high level of plasma ET-1 predicted the development of hypertension in normotensive subjects.
Kumagae
Shun-ichi
S
Department of Internal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.
Adachi
Hisashi
H
Jacobs
David R
DR
Hirai
Yuji
Y
Enomoto
Mika
M
Fukami
Ako
A
Otsuka
Maki
M
Nanjo
Yasuki
Y
Esaki
Eishi
E
Kumagai
Eita
E
Yoshikawa
Kuniko
K
Yokoi
Kanako
K
Ogata
Kinuka
K
Tsukagawa
Eri
E
Kasahara
Akiko
A
Murayama
Kyoko
K
Imaizumi
Tsutomu
T
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015331:Cohort Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000097:blood*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000453:epidemiology; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016017:Odds Ratio; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D012307:Risk Factors
D019332:Endothelin-1