Inflammatory markers in hypertensive patients and influence of some associated metabolic risk factor.

INFLAMMATORY MARKERS IN HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS AND INFLUENCE OF SOME ASSOCIATED METABOLIC RISK FACTORS (Abstract): Some epidemiological studies have begun to show a possible correlation between systemic and vascular inflammation and the presence of essential hypertension, especially if it is associated with metabolic risk factors (obesity, dyslipidemia, diabetes mellitus). Objectives: The objective of this study was to evaluate the levels of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen as markers of inflammation in patients with essential hypertension, with or without associated metabolic risk factors. Material and methods: The retrospective study included 200 patients separated into five groups (control, hypertension, and respectively hypertension associated with obesity, or diabetes mellitus type II non-obese or obese type II diabetes). Anamnestic and anthropometric data, blood pressure and heart rate, blood glucose, lipid profile, fibrinogen, quantitative C-reactive protein and echocardiographic parameters have been reported and compared between groups. Results: Our study evaluated a total of 110 women and 90 men, each of the five groups comprising a total of 22 (55%) women and 18 (45%) males. Study of the i nflammatory syndrome found the highest values of CRP in hypertensive and obese patients: 1.56 ± 3.08 (p = 0.014) in group 3 and 0.92 ± 1.11 (p = 0.001) in group 5 versus control group (0.30 ± 0.36). Fibrinogen values were significantly elevated in all groups of hypertensive, demonstrating the existence of an inflammatory syndrome, even in the absence of obesity or diabetes. Conclusions: All the patients showed a statistically significant relationship between elevated CRP and fibrinogen levels and the presence of hypertension, isolated, or in combination with obesity and diabetes mellitus.