Objective: This study investigates the plasma vasoactive substances and antioxidant enzymes levels in prehypertensive patients.
Methods: Patients were scruited according to JNC-7 and divided into three groups: 74 normotensive subjects (NT group, 38 males, mean age 47.15 +/- 7.77 years old); 51 prehypertensive patients (PH group, 29 males, mean age 47.82 +/- 5.16 years old) and 71 essential hypertensive patients (EH group, 37 males, mean age 48.25 +/- 7.97 years old). Serum lipids and plasma angiotensin II (Ang II), endothelin (ET), vasopressin (AVP), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), nitric oxide synthase (NOS), superoxide dismutase (SOD) and glutathione peroxidase (GPX) by radioimmunoassay and enzyme linked immunosorbent assay.
Results: Serum Lipids (TG, CHO and LDL) were significantly higher in the PH and EH groups compared to NT group (all P < 0.05). Ang II, AVP and ET were significantly increased while CGRP decreased in the EH group than that in NT group (all P < 0.05). SOD was significantly lower while GPX significantly higher. Further more, in the PH and EH groups than those in the NT group (all P < 0.05).
Conclusion: SOD was reduced and GPX increased in prehypertensive patients.