The roles of platelet function, thromboxane, blood lipids and nitric oxide in hypertension of children and adolescents

The roles of platelet function, plasma lipids and nitric oxide (NO) were studied in adolescent patients with essential hypertension (JEHT group), with chronic renal failure (CRF) associated with hypertension (CRFH group), and CRF patients with normal blood pressure (CRF group), as compared with normal controls (cont. group). Platelet aggregation and the thromboxane B-2 (TxB(2)) level were significantly higher in the JEHT and CRFH groups as compared with the cent. group, whereas they were significantly lower in the CRF group. On the other hand, the platelet cAMP level was significantly lower in the JEHT and CRFH groups than in the cent. group. The plasma NO level was significantly higher only in the JEHT as compared with the cent. group (120 +/- 39 and 89 +/- 21 uM, respectively). The plasma total cholesterol, triglyceride and LDL cholesterol concentrations were normal in the JEHT group, but high in the CRF and CRFH group, the HDL cholesterol level was lower in the CRF and CRFH groups as compared with the cent. and JEHT groups. There was a positive correlation between the platelet aggregation and the TxB(2) level and between the BP and the platelet aggregation. In conclusion, hyperlipidaemia is commonly present in uraemia with haemodialysis, but is not specific for hypertension in children, while an increased platelet function is frequently associated with hypertension. The increased NO level might play a compensatory role in JEHT. (C) 2000 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.