Insulin-like growth factor 1 and pressure load in hypertensive patients.

To verify the effect of a pressure load on the production of Insulin-like Growth Factor 1 (IGF1) in essential hypertensives, we studied 15 patients and 8 normotensive controls before and during orthostatism. Upright standing was characterized both in normals and in hypertensives by significant higher rate-pressure product [RPP = systolic blood pressure (mm Hg) x heart rate (beats/min)]. Proportional increases of RPP were significantly related to IGF1 values at the end of orthostatism and to proportional increases of IGF1 in hypertensive group but not in normotensive one. Our results confirm that IGF1 plasma levels in hypertensive patients are related to pressure load.