title: Renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system gender differences in an Afro-Caribbean population.
abstract: Prior studies have denoted gender differences in the expression and therapeutic benefits of hypertension treatment and clinical outcomes. This study documents for the first time gender differences in the expression of blood and urine angiotensin peptides in normotensive Afro-Caribbean Barbadians (25 males; 26 females).
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants provided clinical anthropometric measurements, 24h ambulatory blood pressure and urine collections, and a blood sample for measurements of angiotensin peptides.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Plasma renin activity ranged between 0.00 and 3.00 ng/ml/h. Plasma and urinary Ang II were comparable in both genders, while urinary Ang-(1-7) was greater in females (p<0.05). Urinary Ang-(1-7) and office systolic blood pressure correlated significantly in females only (p<0.01), while plasma Ang-(1-7) and Ang II correlated significantly in both genders (p>0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  A shift in the balance between Ang II and Ang-(1-7) and their respective pressor and depressor axes might be markers of the cardio-renal protective mechanisms that may be present in females of Afro-Caribbean descent.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Barbados damian.cohall@cavehill.uwi.edu.
authors.forename: Damian H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Cohall
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Sciences, Faculty of Science and Technology, University of the West Indies, Barbados.
authors.forename: Thea
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Scantlebury-Manning
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Barbados.
authors.forename: Stephen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: James
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Medical Sciences, University of the West Indies, Barbados.
authors.forename: Kiana
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hall
authors.affiliation: Departments of Surgery, Internal Medicine-Nephrology, Physiology-Pharmacology, Wake Forest University School of Medicine, Winstoin Salem, NC, USA.
authors.forename: Carlos M
authors.initials: CM
authors.lastname: Ferrario
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000097:blood; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D044383:Black People; D001794:Blood Pressure; D017691:Caribbean Region; D003710:Demography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System; D012727:Sex Characteristics; D013599:Systole; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D000804:Angiotensin II
keywords: Afro-Caribbean; Plasma renin activity; angiotensin II; angiotensin-(1-7); blood pressure; gender