Lipoprotein (a) and Inflammatory Markers in Hypertensive Patients

Abstract

Background: Hypertension is the most important public health problem in developing countries and one of the major risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Lipoprotein (a) is a known risk factor for cardiovascular diseases and systemic inflammation such as interleukin-6 and high sensitive C-reactive proteinareimplicated in the development of hypertension.Objective: The aim of the present study wasto detectthe associations between inflammatory markers as interleukin-6 and high sensitive C-reactive protein with atherogenic indices in hypertensive patients and compared with the control.Patients and Methods: This study was conducted in Medical City Hospital during the period from November2013 until the end of June2014. Ninetyhypertensive patients were enrolledin this study(45 male and 45 female); their age range was (40-55) years and compared with 90 healthy subjects as control group. They studied for their serum lipoprotein (a) and lipid profile including total cholesterol, triacylglycerols, high density lipoprotein cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, very low density lipoprotein, and non high density lipoprotein cholesterol in fasting state. Also inflammatory marker such as interleukin-6 and high sensitive C-reactive protein were measured in those patients and compared with the control group.Results:There was a significant increase in lipoprotein (a) levels, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, non high density lipoprotein cholesterol, interleukin-6, and high sensitive C-reactive protein in hypertensive patients as compared to the control, (P=0.0001).Also, there wasa significant increase in lipoprotein (a) levels, total cholesterol, low density lipoprotein cholesterol, non high density lipoprotein cholesterol, interleukin-6, and high sensitive C-reactive protein in grade 3 hypertensive as compared to grade 1 and 2 hypertensive patients.Conclusions: It can be concluded thatlipoprotein (a) level was significantly higher in hypertensive patients as compared with the control group. So lowering its concentration would help prevention of cardiovascular diseases.Serum interleukin-6 and high sensitive C-reactive protein estimation can be used as potential tools for early identification of individuals at the risk for development of hypertension and eventually cardiovascular diseases.