Association of the -344T/C aldosterone synthase gene variant with essential hypertension.

The aldosterone synthase gene (CYP11B2) is an important candidate gene region in essential hypertension. We therefore studied the association of -344T/C polymorphism of the CYP11B2 gene with the presence and severity of hypertension in a case-control study. We studied 369 individuals, of whom 213 were hypertensive patients (139 controlled hypertensive, 74 resistant hypertensive) and 156 were healthy normotensive subjects.

Association of -344/T/C aldosterone synthase polymorphism (CYP11B2) with left ventricular structure and humoral parameters in young normotensive men.

Background: Aldosterone plays an important role in development of left ventricular (LV) hypertrophy and myocardial fibrosis. We assessed the influence of the T-344C polymorphism of aldosterone synthase - the rate-limiting enzyme in aldosterone biosynthesis - on the structure of the left ventricle in young normotensive men.

Design And Methods: The population included 113 normotensive mid-European Caucasian men aged 18-40 years (mean 27 +/- 5 years).

[Is mild essential hypertension without obvious organ complications and risk factors associated with increased levels of circulating markers of endothelial dysfunction? Effect of ACE inhibitor therapy].

The objective of the investigation was to assess whether circulating adhesion molecules, von Willebrand factor (vWf) and endothelin-1 are elevated in patients with mild uncomplicated essential hypertension without further risk factors of atherosclerosis and whether they could serve as indicators of endothelial dysfunction in this form of hypertension. Furthermore the authors investigated the effect of ACE inhibitor treatment (ACEI), quinapril, on the level of these markers of endothelial dysfunction. The level of adhesion molecules [intercellular cytoadhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), E-selectin, P-selectin], von Willebrand s factor (vWf) and endothelin-1 were assessed in patients with mild essential hypertension without further cardiovascular risk factors or clinical manifestations of atherosclerosis before and after quinapril treatment (n = 25) and compared with normotensive controls (n = 29).

Association analysis of Arg16Gly polymorphism of the beta2-adrenergic receptor gene in offspring from hypertensive and normotensive families.

Objective: Since beta2-adrenergic receptors (beta2AR) can influence blood pressure not only by vasodilation, but also participate in noradrenaline release from sympathetic nerve endings, we have studied whether Arg16Gly polymorphism of the beta2AR gene is associated with predisposition to essential hypertension and increased plasma noradrenaline concentration in offspring from normotensive (SN) and hypertensive parents (SH).

Design And Methods: The study population consisted of 105 young SN and 101 SH subjects matched for age and body mass index. Arg16Gly polymorphism of the beta2AR gene was determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) technique and subsequent incubation with NcoI restriction enzyme.

Circulating intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1, endothelin-1 and von Willebrand factor-markers of endothelial dysfunction in uncomplicated essential hypertension: the effect of treatment with ACE inhibitors.

The aim of the study was to examine whether the circulating cell adhesion molecules, von Willebrand factor (vWf) and endothelin-1, are elevated in patients with essential hypertension with no other risk factors for atherosclerosis and thus may serve as a markers of endothelial dysfunction in uncomplicated hypertension. Furthermore, the effect of treatment with the ACE inhibitor, quinapril, on levels of endothelial dysfunction markers were studied. The levels of adhesion molecules (intercellular cell adhesion molecule-1 [ICAM-1], E-selectin, P-selectin), von Willebrand factor (vWf) and endothelin-1 were measured in patients with hypertension without any other risk factors of atherosclerosis before and after treatment with quinapril (n = 22) and in normotensive controls (n = 22).