Plasma levels of homocysteine in patients with white-coat hypertension

• Published in: International journal of clinical practice (Esher) Vol. 58; no. 11; pp. 997 - 999
• Main Authors: COBAN, E, ÖZDOGAN, M, ERMIS, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford, UK; Malden, USA Blackwell Science Ltd 01.11.2004; Blackwell; Hindawi Limited
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Biomarkers - blood; Blood products; Cardiovascular disease; Cardiovascular risk; Female; General aspects; Homocysteine - blood; Humans; hyperhomocysteinemia; Hypertension; Hypertension - blood; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Plasma; Risk Factors; white-coat hypertension; Sulfur containing aminoacid; Human; Hypertension; Medicine; Thiol; Homocystein; Cardiovascular disease; Blood plasma
• ISSN: 1368-5031; 1742-1241
• DOI: 10.1111/j.1742-1241.2004.00013.x

Summary Elevated levels of plasma homocysteine (Hcy) is an independent risk factor for cardiovascular diseases. The risk profile of white‐coat hypertension (WCHT) is not yet completely clear. In this study, we aim to determine the levels of plasma Hcy in a group of patients with WCHT, and to obtain clinical results by comparing WCHT group with hypertensive and healthy groups. Age, sex and body mass index were matched for 15 normal subjects, 15 patients with WCHT and 15 patients with essential hypertension, and they were included in the study. We measured levels of plasma Hcy in all groups. Levels of plasma Hcy were significantly higher in patients with sustained hypertension than in WCHT group (p = 0.03). They were also significantly higher in patients with WCHT than in control group (p = 0.02). Our data suggest that WCHT subjects are at an increased cardiovascular risk, although this was lower than the risk in patients with sustained hypertension.