title: Influence of hypertension, obesity and nicotine abuse on quantitative and qualitative changes in acute-phase proteins in patients with essential hypertension.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Hypertension is a powerful risk factor for cardiovascular disease and frequently occurs in conjunction with obesity. Accumulative evidence suggests a link between inflammation and hypertension. The aim of study was to evaluate whether blood pressure, obesity and smoking may influence acute-phase response.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ninety-two patients with essential hypertension and 75 healthy volunteers as a control group were studied. In all subjects assessment of hsCRP, alpha1-acid glycoprotein (AGP), alpha1-antichymotrypsin, transferrin, alpha1-antitrypsin, and C3 and C4 complement were performed. Evaluation of glycosylation profile and reactivity coefficient (RC) for AGP was done by means of affinity immunoelectrophoresis with concanavalin A as a ligand.
  
  
  RESULTS
  When compared to the controls, hypertensive subjects presented significantly higher hsCRP concentrations and lower transferrin level. Hypertensive patients had elevated AGP-AC. The intensification of the inflammatory reaction was greater in the subgroup of hypertensive patients smoking cigarettes. In obese hypertensives, elevated serum C3 complement level was found.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We conclude that arterial hypertension may evoke the acute-phase response in humans. Markers of acute-phase response are particularly strongly expressed in smokers. Serum C 3 complement, but not other APPs, is elevated in hypertension coexisting with obesity.<br />
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolic Disorders and Hypertension, University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cymerys
authors.forename: Paweł
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Bogdański
authors.forename: Danuta
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Pupek-Musialik
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Jabłecka
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Łącki
authors.forename: Izabela
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Korczowska
authors.forename: Joanna
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Dytfeld
mesh_terms: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000328:Adult; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009538:Nicotine / Q000009:adverse effects*; D009765:Obesity / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D012907:Smoking / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D000209:Acute-Phase Proteins; D009538:Nicotine