Hypertension and arterial disease

Investigation of the correlation between norepinephrine transporter gene polymorphisms and essential hypertension

Essential hypertension (EH) is an etiological risk factor that poses a serious threat to human health. The aim of this study therefore was to investigate the correlation between the two SNPs (rs1805067 and rs2397771) of the norepinephrine (NE) transporter gene in the sympathetic nervous system and essential hypertension (EH). A total of 96 hypertensive patients (EH group) and 96 normal subjects (control group) were selected by epidemiological investigation and the sequences at rs1805067 and rs2397771 in the two groups were investigated using polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and Sanger sequencing. In the EH group, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), levels of creatinine, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), triglycerides (TG), and the percentage of drinkers were found to be higher compared with those of the control group (P<0.05). The results of the analysis of the allele frequencies of rs1805067 (A/G) revealed that there was no difference between the two groups (P>0.05). The analysis results of the allele frequencies of rs2397771 (C/G) in the EH group revealed that G accounted for 48.96% and C for 51.04% of the patients, while in the control group, these values were 64.58 and 35.42%, respectively. These results indicated a significant difference between the two groups (P<0.05). In the population studied, the onset of EH may be correlated with BMI, TG, LDL-C and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). EH may be related to the rs2397771 (C/G) C allele polymorphism of the NE transporter gene but not to rs1805067 (A/G).

Effect of blood pressure on prevalence of carotid atheroma

In an attempt to elucidate the mechanism by which hypertension acts as a risk factor for major non-haemorrhagic stroke, its effect on the prevalence of carotid atheroma has been studied angiographically. The carotid angiograms of 269 patients with cerebral tumours have been reviewed for evidence of coincidental atheromatous change. The prevalence of signs of arterial disease at the carotid bifurcation proved to be greater amongst patients with an elevated casual blood pressure reading, though the effect was small and confined to subjects over 50 years of age. It is argued that other factors must contribute to the connection between hypertension and the risks of cerebral infarction.