Lower plasma soluble TWEAK concentration in patients with newly diagnosed hypertension.
OBJECTIVE
To determine circulating levels of the soluble TNF-like weak inducer of apoptosis (sTWEAK)and its association with demographic and biochemical parameters in a young group of patients with newly diagnosed and never treated hypertension.


METHODS
A total of 51 patients (mean age 21.7 ±1.4 years, body mass index (BMI) 24.5 ±1.6 kg/m2) with primary untreated hypertension, and 37 age- and BMI-matched healthy controls (mean age 22.5 ± 1.9 years, BMI 24.7 ± 1.5 kg/m2) were studied. Serums TWEAK and plasma asymmetrical dimethyl arginine (ADMA) levels were measured by EIA.


RESULTS
In patients and controls, mean systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP) were 149.8±5.65/93.4±3.4 mmHg and 124.2±6.4/78.24±5.5 mmHg, respectively. Serum sTWEAK levels were lower in the patient group (882.6±228.9 μmol/L vs. 1060.2±231.7μmol/L, p=0.001), whereas plasma ADMA levels were higher(0.837±0.34μmol/L vs.0.3176±0.25μmol/L, p < 0.001). sTWEAK serum levels correlated with SBP(r=-0.301; p=0.005) and DBP (r=-0.279; p=0.009). Circulating plasma ADMA levels also correlated with SBP (r=0.734; p < 0.001) and DBP (r=0.733; p < 0.001).


CONCLUSIONS
Young patients with yet untreated primary hypertension have lower circulating serum sTWEAK level compared with healthy controls. Further research for possible associations among serum sTWEAK, endothelial dysfunction and other measures of atherosclerosis may be of benefit in order to better understand the pathophysiology of hypertension and to establish more effective treatment options.
Department of Internal Medicine, Gulhane School of Medicine, Asagıeglence, Etlik, Ankara, Turkey. drnkaradurmus@yahoo.com
Nuri
N
Karadurmus
Serkan
S
Tapan
Mustafa
M
Cakar
Ilkin
I
Naharci
Turgay
T
Celik
Ilker
I
Tasci
Selim
S
Sayin
Tolga
T
Dogan
Turker
T
Turker
M Kemal
MK
Erbil
Kenan
K
Saglam
D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood*; D015992:Body Mass Index; D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors / Q000097:blood*
D015415:Biomarkers; D000074049:Cytokine TWEAK; C109743:TNFSF12 protein, human; D048069:Tumor Necrosis Factors