Elevation of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 in borderline hypertension is linked to concomitant metabolic disturbances

In the present study we investigated plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor 1 (PAI-I), fibrinogen and von Willebrand factor (vWF) in borderline hypertensive (BHT) men [diastolic blood pressure (DBP) 85-94 mmHg, n=75] and age-matched normotensive INT) control subjects (DBP less than or equal to 80 mmHg, n=75), in relation to smoking, body mass index (BMI) and fasting lipoprotein and insulin levels. PAI-1 levels were elevated in the BHT group [16 . 3 vs. 13 . 7 arbitrary units (AU), P = 0 . 032], whereas levels of fibrinogen and vWF were similar in the two groups. The PAI-1 elevation was even more pronounced in dyslipidaemic BHT subjects than in normolipidaemic NT subjects (20 . 0 vs. 10 . 3 arbitrary units (AU), P = 0 . 001). PAI-I levels showed strong correlations with insulin, lipoproteins and BMI (P < 0 . 01-0 . 001), but not with DBP. The results show that disturbances in the fibrinolytic system appear even in borderline hypertension. The elevation of PAI-1 levels seems to be more strongly linked to concomitant metabolic disturbances than to blood pressure levels.