[Correlation of Endothelial Dysfunction With Course of Essential Arterial Hypertension in Adolescence].

AIM: to study laboratory parameters of endothelial dysfunction (ED) and their correlation with risk factors (RF) of cardiovascular diseases at early stages of essential arterial hypertension (AH) in adolescents.

MATERIAL AND

METHODS

We examined 299 adolescents aged 12-18 years with EAH. According to results of 24-hour blood pressure (BP) monitoring all patients were divided into three groups: (1) 98 adolescents with "white coat hypertension", (2) 108 adolescents with liable AH (LAH), (3) 93 patients with stable AH (stAH). Control group consisted of 27 healthy adolescents. Examination included 24-hour BP monitoring, measurement of some laboratory parameters of ED (Von Willebrand factor [vWF], nitric oxide metabolites, urine catecholamines), and assessment of cardiovascular RF.

RESULTS

Mean vWF values in groups (2) and (3) were clinically significantly different from control. Increase of vWF activity by 1 unit was associated with increase of mean nocturnal pulse pressure by 0.36 mm Hg (p = 0.048). Markers of ED were related to family history of AH, overweight and low birth weight.