Background The purpose of the investigation was to estimate the quantitative relationship between laboratory markers of inflammation in blood of patients with primary hypertension (WBC, the amount of monocytes, CRP, sICAM-1, sVCAM-1).
Material and methods The survey was carried out in 54 patients with primary hypertension and 35 healthy individuals. In each person amount of leukocytes (WBC) and monocytes, concentration of hsCRP and soluble adhesion molecules sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1, the blood pressure, BMI, WHR were determined and other laboratory tests were performed. The numbers of leukocytes and monocytes were evaluated with use of CELL-DYN 3700 analyzer. The concentration of CRP in serum was assayed with use of turbidimetric method on Dimension analyzer (Siemens). The level of soluble adhesion molecules in serum was assessed by immunoenzymatic “sandwich” method based on R&D system tests (Abingdon, UK).
Results The number of leukocytes, monocytes, the concentration of adhesion molecules sICAM-1 and sVCAM-1 were not significantly different in blood of patients with primary arterial hypertension and healthy individuals. The statistically significant differences were obtained when the concentration of hsCRP in patients with primary arterial hypertension and healthy individuals were compared. In the investigated group significant correlations have been observed: 1. between the amount of leukocytes and monocytes, and 2. between the amount of leukocytes and the concentration of soluble adhesion molecule ICAM-1.
Conclusions The concentration of hsCRP can become an useful marker in the assessment of the state of inflammation process in vascular walls in patients with primary hypertension. High number of patients with both primary hypertension and elevated concentration of hsCRP (>3 mg/l) suggests that the test can complement the clinical assay of those patients, because the inflammation of the vessels accelerates the progress of atherosclerosis and increases the risk of organ complications.
Arterial Hypertension 2011, vol. 15, no 4, pages 251–257.