ObjectiveTo discuss the relationship between microalbuminuria (MAU) and antioxidant activity of plasma hyper density lipoprotein (HDL) in hypertensive patients, and investigate whether MAU could be a predictor of HDL antioxidant activity. MethodFrom December 2007 to March 2009, sixty consecutive primary hypertensive patients from the inpatient and outpatient departments of West China Hospital and Sichuan Electric Power Central Hospital were included in the study, and 30 healthy volunteers served as controls. MAU, plasma HDL and paraoxonase (PON1) activity were tested. ResultsPON1 activity was lower in hypertensive patients than the controls (P<0.05), and this degree of decline was positively related to MAU (P<0.05). ConclusionMAU reflects PON1 activity in hypertensive patients and can be a predictor to judge plasma HDL function in patients with hypertension.
ObjectiveTo investigate the significance of using the term "high-normal blood pressure" and its intervention in the early stage. MethodsIn 1992 and 2007, we performed two similar investigations focusing on cardiovascular risk factors in 711 people in Chengdu city. Since 114 individuals were diagnosed with hypertension, 597 people without hypertension were eligible and divided into two groups:the normal-pressure[<120/80 mm Hg (1 mm Hg=0.133 kPa)] group and the high-normal blood pressure (systolic blood pressure 120-139 mm Hg and/or diastolic blood pressure 80-89 mm Hg) group. Data in the two investigations were compared to explore the relationship among high-normal blood pressure, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and hypertension. ResultsThe high-normal blood pressure group had a higher level of CVD risk factors both in 1992 and 2007, and the 15-year cumulative incidence of hypertension in the high-normal blood pressure group was higher than that of normal-pressure group (91.2% vs. 22.2%, P<0.001). After adjusting for serum lipid, body weight and other CVD risk factors, high-normal blood pressure could predict the progression into hypertension[HR=5.354, 95% CI (4.094, 7.002), P=0.001]. There was no statistics difference in CVD prevalence in the two groups in 1992, but in 2007 the prevalence of CVD tended to be higher in the high-normal blood pressure group (6.6% vs. 3.1%, P=0.052). ConclusionHigh-normal blood pressure is a special stage of blood pressure with high level of CVD risk factors and high potential to progress into hypertension. The term should be emphasized and intervention should be done in the early stage for high-normal blood pressure people to prevent from hypertension and CVD.