Aim: to study laboratory parameters of endothelial dysfunction (ED) and their correlation with risk factors (RF) of cardiovascular diseases at early stages of essential arterial hypertension (AH) in adolescents.
Material and methods: We examined 299 adolescents aged 12-18 years with EAH. According to results of 24-hour blood pressure (BP) monitoring all patients were divided into three groups: (1) 98 adolescents with "white coat hypertension", (2) 108 adolescents with liable AH (LAH), (3) 93 patients with stable AH (stAH). Control group consisted of 27 healthy adolescents. Examination included 24-hour BP monitoring, measurement of some laboratory parameters of ED (Von Willebrand factor [vWF], nitric oxide metabolites, urine catecholamines), and assessment of cardiovascular RF.
Results: Mean vWF values in groups (2) and (3) were clinically significantly different from control. Increase of vWF activity by 1 unit was associated with increase of mean nocturnal pulse pressure by 0.36 mm Hg (p = 0.048). Markers of ED were related to family history of AH, overweight and low birth weight.