title: High level of plasma endothelin-1 predicts development of hypertension in normotensive subjects.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Kurume University School of Medicine, Japan.
authors.forename: Shun-ichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Kumagae
authors.forename: Hisashi
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Adachi
authors.forename: David R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Jacobs
authors.forename: Yuji
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Hirai
authors.forename: Mika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Enomoto
authors.forename: Ako
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Fukami
authors.forename: Maki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Otsuka
authors.forename: Yasuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Nanjo
authors.forename: Eishi
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Esaki
authors.forename: Eita
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Kumagai
authors.forename: Kuniko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yoshikawa
authors.forename: Kanako
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Yokoi
authors.forename: Kinuka
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.forename: Eri
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Tsukagawa
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kasahara
authors.forename: Kyoko
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Murayama
authors.forename: Tsutomu
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Imaizumi
mesh_terms: 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
chemical_list: D019332:Endothelin-1