Abstract P185: Prognostic Value of Endothelial Markers in Hypertensive Nondiabetic Patients

Abstract

Aim: to study the prognostic value of the serum levels of stable nitric oxide metabolites (NOx), endothelin-1 (E1), homocystein (HC), von Willebrand factor (Wf), tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), in hypertensive nondiabetic patients without cardiovascular disease. Methods: 124 patients with hypertension (HTN), without diabetes were enrolled, the mean age was 51.4±6.5y, the mean duration of HTN was 8.5±7.6 y, 36 % were males, 35% were smokers, 54% were obese. The cardiovascular risk was estimated according to the SCORE (Systematic Coronary Risk Evaluation) system. Plasma NOx levels were determined by spectrophotometry, E1, HC, Wf, tPA levels by enzyme immunoassay. The follow-up period was 8±1.1y. Statistical analysis was done using the SPSS 11.1 software. Results: On initial investigation all patients were stratified according to the SCORE risk levels. The increase of SCORE risk levels were associated with the elevation of serum NOx, E1, HC, and Wf concentrations. The mean plasma NOx concentration increased along with the SCORE risk level: it was 36.4±12.7 in low risk, 41.1±15.7 in moderate risk, 44.9±19.8 in high risk, and 50.4±19.1 umol/L in very high risk categories (<0.05 between the low and high risk groups). The tPA levels did not differed in relation to the SCORE risk estimates. The SCORE risk level correlated with serum concentrations of NOx (r=0.74, p=0.0001), HC (r=0.54, p=0.0001), and Wf (r=0.43, p=0.001). Conclusions: The stable nitric oxide metabolites, homocystein, and von Willebrand factor are the markers of oxidative/nitrosative stress severity. Our results are indicative that this substances may be of prognostic value in hypertensive nondiabetic patients.