The ambulatory monitoring documents a more elevated blood pressure regimen (pre-hypertension) in normotensives with endothelial dysfunction.

PURPOSE: The present study investigates the blood pressure (BP) 24-h values in normotensives with and without endothelial dysfunction (ED). The scope is to detect differences in BP regimen supporting the hypothesis that the ED is associated with vasopressant effects that can cause a condition of "pre-hypertension". MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight normotensives were investigated in their endothelial function by mean of the non-invasive post-ischemic brachial artery vasodilation test (endothelium-dependent vasomotricity). Their were also automatically and non-invasively monitored in their systolic (S) and diastolic (D) BP over the 24-h period in order to confirm that they were not hypertensive. RESULTS: Eight of the investigated normotensives were found to show an ED. A significantly higher daily mean level as well as a more prominent nychtohemeral variability in SBP and DBP 24-h values were observed in the normotensives with ED as compared to the normotensives without ED. The higher BP regimen in the normotensives with ED was found to maintain a circadian rhythm. However, a significant amplification the second harmonic component, with a 12-h period, was observed. The different structure of the BP 24-h pattern in the normotensives with ED was confirmed by the detection of additional ultradian components at the linear-in-period spectral analysis. CONCLUSIONS: The present study documented a significant elevation of BP 24-h values in normotensives with ED that is the reflex of consistent changes in the frequency organization of the BP circadian pattern. The elevation of BP regimen suggests that the ED is associated with vasopressant effects even in normotensives. Such a condition of higher BP in normotensives with ED can be regarded as a status of "pre-hypertension".

Higher blood pressure load (baric impact) in normotensives with endothelial dysfunction: a paraphysiological status of "pre-hypertension".

PURPOSE: The present study investigated the blood pressure (BP) load (L), namely Baric Impact (BI), in normotensives with and without endothelial dysfunction (ED). The aim was to detect baric differences supporting the thesis that the ED is associated with vasopressant effects that are responsible for a paraphysiological condition of higher BP (pre-hypertension) even in normotensives. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-eight normotensives were investigated in their endothelium-dependent vasomotricity by mean of the non-invasive post-ischemic brachial artery vasodilation test. Additionally, their underwent a non-invasive ambulatory (A) BP monitoring (M) over the 24-h span in order to confirm that they were not hypertensive. The ABPM served also to compute the systolic (S) and diastolic (D) BI. RESULTS: The ED was detected in eight normotensives of the investigated group. These cases with ED were found to show a significantly higher SBI and DBI as compared to the normotensives without ED. CONCLUSIONS: The significant elevation of the SBI and DBI in normotensives with ED is an evidence convincing that a dysfunctional endothelium is responsible for vasopressant effects that cause a paraphysiological status of "pre-hypertension".

[Hyperammonemia during hypothyroidism: an unusual biohumoral finding normalized by hormonal replacement treatment]. / Iperammoniemia in corso di ipotiroidismo: un insolito reperto bioumorale normalizzato con il trattamento ormonale sostitutivo.

In this paper we describe 3 clinical cases of hypothyroidism causing myopathy and hyperammonemia. The patients, all females, aged 32 to 64 years, presented with hoarseness, fatigue, dyspepsia (case I), difficulty speaking secondary to the sensation of tongue swelling and hoarseness (case II), and progressive weight gain and difficulty speaking secondary to tongue swelling after delivery (case III). Laboratory tests showed a marked increase in creatine phosphokinase (up to 4090 U/L; normal values 24-176 U/L) of muscle origin, and an increase in transaminases and ammonia (124 to 150 micrograms/dL; normal values up to 75 micrograms/dL). Hypothyroidism was confirmed by TSH > 100 microIU/mL (normal values 0.3-5 microIU/mL). Treatment only with L-thyroxine determined the complete and persistent recovery of well-being and of biochemical abnormalities. The patients remained in good health after more than 2 years of follow-up. Our finding of hyperammonemia caused by the lack of thyroid hormones in 3 patients with hypothyroid myopathy appears to be of a certain interest as, to our knowledge, this phenomenon has not been previously described. In conclusion our hypothesis is that increased muscle production of ammonia secondary to the hypothyroid myopathy determined an increased ammonia load, resulting in hyperammonemia. Decreased liver ureagenesis induced by the lack of thyroid hormones also contributed to the hyperammonemia.