title: Impact of administration of folic acid on selected indicators of inflammation in patients with primary arterial hypertension.
abstract: The results of epidemiological and clinical tests have shown that in patients with primary arterial hypertension, a chronic mild inflammation develops. The purpose of the study was to determine whether administration of folic acid to patients with primary arterial hypertension influences concentrations of indicators of inflammation: hsCRP, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1.
  
  
  METHODS
  The examination was carried out in 41 patients with primary arterial hypertension, aged 19-65 (21 men and 20 women), without complications of hypertension and/or coexisting diseases. The examined patients were administered 15 mg of folic acid once a day for 45 days. Before and after administration of folic acid, concentrations of folic acid, homocysteine, hsCRP, sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 in serum were assessed. Concentrations of folic acid and homocysteine were determined using the immunoenzymatic method (Abbott) on an AxSYM analyzer. The level of C-reactive protein (CRP) was determined with an ultra-sensitive turbidimetric assay on a Dimension analyzer (Siemens). Next, concentrations of adhesion particles sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were assessed with the ELISA technique (R&D).
  
  
  RESULTS
  After the administration of folic acid in patients with primary arterial hypertension, a significant decrease in median concentrations of homocysteine in blood was observed. Simultaneously, the median hsCRP, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 concentrations in serum in patients with primary arterial hypertension were significantly reduced.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Administration of folic acid to persons with primary arterial hypertension in a dose of 15 mg/ day for 45 days caused a decrease in the concentration of homocysteine in serum. That could indirectly result in the decrease in concentrations of the indicators of inflammation (hsCRP, ICAM-1 and VCAM-1), as it is apparent from previous studies that hyperhomocysteinemia stimulates the synthesis of CRP and the expression of adhesion molecules.
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Aleksandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baszczuk
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Zygmunt
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kopczyński
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolic Disorders and Hypertension, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Jarosław
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Kopczyński
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Metabolic Disorders and Hypertension, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Maciej
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cymerys
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Thielemann
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Lena
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Bielawska
authors.affiliation: Department of Laboratory Diagnostics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Banaszewska
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D062186:Arterial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects*; D005260:Female; D005492:Folic Acid / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D005492:Folic Acid