PP.14.03] PLASMA MARKERS OF ENDOTHELIAL DYSFUNCTION IN PATIENTS WITH HYPERTENSION AND ATRIAL FIBRILLATION

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate plasma markers of endothelial dysfunction in patients with hypertension and different categories of atrial fibrillation (AF). Design and method: The study included 113 hypertensive patients aged 34 to 72 years (mean age 60.2 ± 5.7 years). Based on AF category, patients were divided into 3 groups: the first group consisted of 50 patients with paroxysmal AF; 33 patients with permanent AF were included into the second group, and 30 patients in sinus rhythm were designated as the control group. The plasma collagen-binding activity of von Willebrand factor (vWf) and endothelin-1 (ET-1) level were measured in all the patients. Results: Collagen–binding activity vWf was significantly higher in patients with hypertension and permanent AF (150 IU/dl, p < 0.05) in comparison with the patients with paroxysmal AF (106 ± 12 IU/dl, p = 0.04) and the controls (84 ± 11 IU/dl, p = 0.001). There was a significant direct correlation between AF paroxysm frequency per year and collagen-binding activity of vWf in hypertensive patients with paroxysmal AF (r = 0.59041). No significant differences in the average ET-1 levels were observed between the patients with AF and hypertensives in sinus rhythm. The plasma ET-1 level was directly associated with the grade of hypertension in all the groups. Conclusions: Collagen–binding activity of vWf did not correlate with the grade of hypertension and was significantly higher in patients with permanent AF when compared with the control group subjects. There was a significant direct correlation between AF paroxysm frequency and collagen-binding activity of vWf in patients with paroxysmal AF. Plasma endothelin-1 level was directly associated with the grade of hypertension in both AF patients and the control subjects in sinus rhythm. No correlation between ET-1 level and AF category was found.