RESUMO
AIM: To elucidate potential markers of endothelial dysfunction and relationships between humoral and vasoregulatory responses of the endothelium in patients with essential hypertension. MATERIAL: Thirty four male patients (mean age 54.4+/-9.2) with I-II degree hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy. METHODS: Endothelial function was assessed non-invasively by registration of flow-mediated brachial artery dilatation. Serum level of vascular adhesive molecule 1S (VCAM-1S) was measured by enzyme immunoassay, levels of aldosterone and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) - by radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: Brachial artery flow mediated dilatation was 2.0+/-7.46%. Patients with hypertension compared with healthy subjects had significantly higher mean levels of VCAM-1S (713.9+/-123.2 and 590.8+/-51.8 pg/ml, respectively, p<0.001), aldosterone (105.41+/-50.17 and 42.7+/-13.16 ng/ml, respectively, p<0.001), and IGF (209.7+/-49.1 and 137+/-21 pg/ml, respectively, p<0.001). Direct significant correlations were found between humoral and functional markers of endothelial dysfunction in the group of patients with essential hypertension. CONCLUSION: These results can be interpreted as indicative of pathogenetic role of IGF-1 and aldosterone in the development of the endothelial dysfunction and myocardial remodeling in essential hypertension
