Background No conclusions have been made so far in assessing the role of the so-called non-traditional risk factors in the onset or progression of atherosclerosis in patients with essential hypertension.The purpose of the study was to determine concentrations of homocysteine,von Willebrand factor (vWF),lipoprotein (a) - Lp(a),fibrinogen (Fb)and plasminogen activator inhibitor type 1 (PAI-1)in patients with essential hypertension and healthy subjects and to analyse the correlation between homocysteine level and the other tested parameters.
Material and methods The study group consisted of 37 patients with essential hypertension,14 women and 23 men (mean age 42,4 ±13,1 yrs)and 27 healthy volunteers, 15 women and 12 men (mean age 42,6 ±9,5 yrs).
Results Patients with essential hypertension had significantly higher homocysteine (8,7 ±2,4 mmol/L vs.6,8 ± ± 1,3 mmol/L;p <0,01),vWF (104,3 ±39,4%vs.73,6 ± ± 20,2%;p <0,05)and Fb (310,1 ±77,9 mg%vs.256,2 ± ± 54,8 mg%;p <0,02)concentrations as compared to control group.Concentrations of Lp(a)(14,2 ±14,2 mg% vs.17,6 ±8,5 mg%)and PAI-1 (26,7 ±18,2 ng/ml vs.21,8 ± ± 15,1 ng//ml)were similar in both groups.No correlation was observed between homocystein levels and vWF,Lp(a),Fb, PAI-1,age,diastolic and systolic blood pressure neither in subjects with essential hypertension nor in healthy volunteers.
Conclusions We suggest that the early onset of cardiovascular disease in patients with essential hypertension could be linked to elevated concentrations of homocysteine,Fb and vWF,which are considered to be major risk factors in atherosclerosis.