Homocysteine, adrenergic activity and left ventricular mass in patients with essential hypertension

Objective: Assessment of relationship between homocysteine (Hcy) and noradrenaline (NA), adrenaline (A) concentration and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) in patients with essential hypertension (EH). Design and methods: Samples obtained from 37 patients (14 female, 23 male) with mild EH (according to WHO criteria) (mean age 43.6 +/- 13.2 years) and 37 healthy volunteers (18 female, 19 male; mean age 38.2 +/- 10.6 years) were evaluated for Hcy (ELISA), NA and A (HPLC). Each patient underwent echocardiographic investigation with LVMI measurement (Penn convention). The examinations were performed in the outpatient clinic. Results: Hcy was significantly higher in patients with EH (8.7 +/- 2.4 vs 6.6 +/- 1.3 mumol/l; p < 0.01). NA and A levels were significantly elevated in the EH group (A: 43.9 +/- 26.4 vs 36.9 +/- 29.4 pg/ml; NA: 428.5 +/- 148.8 pg/ml vs 314.6 +/- 103.4 pg/ml; both p < 0.05). LVMI was also significantly higher in EH group (96.6 +/- 19.5 vs 83.4 +/- 16.0 g/m(2); p < 0.01). There was no significant correlation between Hcy and other analysed parameters in the studied groups. Conclusion: High levels of Hcy appear together with increased left ventricular mass and augmented adrenergic activity in patients with EH. Coexistence of high Hcy concentration, left ventricular hypertrophy and increased adrenergic activity increases the risk of atherosclerosis and cardiovascular disease in patients with EH.