NITRIC OXIDE, SERUM HOMOCYSTEINE AND INTIMA-MEDIA THICKNESS IN ADOLESCENT HYPERTENSION. (June 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Lengyel, S.; Katona, E.; Molnar, C.; Paragh, G.; Fulesdi, B.; Pall, D.
• Is Part Of: Journal of hypertension. Volume 36(2018)Supplement 1
• Publication Date: 2018-06
• Subjects: Hypertension -- Periodicals; Hypertension -- Periodicals; 616.132005
• DOI: 10.1097/01.hjh.0000539412.37108.72
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1473-5598

Abstract

Abstract : Objective: It is well known, that adult hypertensives have lower nitric oxide, higher serum homocysteine levels, and increased intima-media thickness. We investigated whether these abnormalities are also detectable in adolescent hypertension. Design and method: 59 normotensive, 47 white coat hypertensive and 73 sustained hypertensive adolescents were included in our study. Plasma NOx as well as homocysteine levels were measured with validated and standardized laboratory methods. The intima-media thickness (IMT) of the common carotid artery was defined by measuring the distance between the media-adventitia layer and the lumen-intima interface. Spearman correlation was applied for the assessment of the relationship between homocysteine and IMT. Results: The three groups had similar mean age (15.8 ± 0.6 years; 16.3 ± 1.1 years; 16.5 ± 1.0 years, p = NS). Compared to normotensives (38.8 ± 7.6 umol/l), both white-coat hypertensive (30.6 ± 11.0 umol/l) and sustained (28.7 ± 22. 4 umol/l) hypertensive adolescents had significantly lower nitric oxide levels (p < 0.001). We observed significantly (p < 0.05) higher homocysteine levels in adolescent white-coat hypertension (11.6 ± 6.8 umol/l) and adolescent sustained hypertension (12.1 ± 7.0 umol/l) compared to normotension (9.8 ± 3.1 umol/l). IMT was higher in both white-coat (0.056 ± 0.001 cm) and sustained hypertensive adolescents (means 0.054 ± 0.001 cm) compared with controls (0.048 ± 0.001 cm). Not significant difference was observed in the two hypertensive group. In the two hypertensive groups between serum homocysteine levels and carotid artery intima-media thickness a significant positive correlation was observed (r = 0.43; p < 0.01). Conclusions: We were able to confirm that not only the sustained, but also the white coat hypertensives have endothelial dysfunction and subclinical target organ damage.