RESUMO
The study included 30 patients with borderline essential hypertension (HPT) (21 with a positive family history of hypertension, mean age 24.6 years, 9 with a negative family history, mean age 27.2 years) and 10 normotensive controls (mean age 27.5 years). In all of them 24-hour urinary noradrenaline (NA) and adrenaline (A) excretion was assayed. Blood levels of NA, A and dopamine, the prostacycline metabolite 6-keto-PGF1 alpha, beta-thromboglobulin, cholesterol, triglycerides and HDL cholesterol were measured, LDL cholesterol was calculated according to the Friedewald equation. Besides, lecithin cholesterol acyltransferase activity was assayed. Patients with HPT and a positive family history had elevated sympathetic and platelet activity and diminished 6-keto-PGF1 alpha blood levels. Their HDL cholesterol level was significantly lower than that of healthy controls. In patients with HPT and a positive family history of HPT the atherogenic index (total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio) was highest, but did not differ significantly from that in other groups. The assessment of the examined humoral factors indicates that patients with borderline HPT with genetic predisposition to high blood pressure have a humoral profile different from that of patients without genetic predisposition. These findings suggest the importance of genetic factors in the development of essential HPT.
