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(Hypertension. 1995;26:796.)
© 1995 American Heart Association, Inc.
Articles |
From the Hypertension Section, Departments of Clinical Physiology (U.W., S.J.) and Internal Medicine (U.W., A.B., S.J.), Östra University Hospital, and Institute of Clinical Neuroscience (C.J.), Department of Neurology, Sahlgrens University Hospital, University of Göteborg, Sweden.
Correspondence to Ulrika Wall, MD, Department of Medicine, Östra Hospital, S-416 85 Göteborg, Sweden.
| Abstract |
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Key Words: hypertension, borderline fibrinolysis alteplase plasminogen activator inhibitor 1
| Introduction |
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Systematic investigations of hemostatic functions in hypertension are sparse, and only a few studies on the fibrinolytic system in essential hypertension have been published. Studies have consistently reported increased PAI-1 activity and decreased t-PA activity in patients with established hypertension compared with normotensive control subjects.8 9 10 11 12 An increased level of t-PA antigen has been reported by some investigators11 12 13 but not by others.9 14
However, previous studies mainly investigated patients with established essential hypertension. It therefore cannot be ruled out that the hemostatic aberrations were early manifestations of preclinical atherosclerotic disease, the prevalence of which would be expected to be greater in established hypertensive subjects. Furthermore, human essential hypertension is frequently associated with a complex web of interrelated metabolic disturbances, including impaired glucose tolerance, fasting hyperinsulinemia, and blood lipid perturbations (eg, see References 15 through 1715 16 17 ). Although part of this effect is related to the coexistence of obesity in hypertension,18 there appears to be a primary link between high blood pressure and metabolic aberrations.19 Since these metabolic disturbances by themselves may have important effects on fibrinolytic functions,20 it has not been established whether impaired endogenous fibrinolysis is associated with elevated blood pressure as such.
The aim of the present study was to investigate the state of the endogenous fibrinolytic system in young subjects with a very mild and early borderline blood pressure elevation, in whom secondary adaptive changes of the cardiovascular system or atherosclerosis were likely to be limited. To avoid the confounding effects of obesity and/or metabolic aberrations on fibrinolysis, the study was based on a population-recruited sample of borderline hypertensive and normotensive control subjects with similar BMIs, devoid of major lipid metabolic derangements.
| Methods |
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One subject in the BH group had a fasting plasma glucose value of 17 mmol/L and therefore was excluded from analysis.
Informed consent was obtained from each subject before inclusion in the study. The protocol was approved by the Ethics Committee of the University of Göteborg. All methodological procedures were performed in accordance with the guidelines of our laboratory.
Study Protocol
The present study was undertaken approximately 4 years after
the baseline investigation. Studies were performed in the morning after
an overnight fast (>10 hours).
Blood pressure was measured with a mercury sphygmomanometer in the supine position after 10 minutes of rest. On each occasion, an average of three readings was used. BMI was calculated from weight divided by height squared (kg/m2). WHR was determined to be the ratio of the waist circumference at the umbilical level to the hip circumference at the level of the major trochanter in the standing position. The sagittal diameter was defined as the midinspiratory height of the umbilicus in the supine position. Two baseline blood samples were collected at 8:30 and 10:30 AM. Fibrinolytic capacity was measured by use of a standardized venous occlusion test according to Robertson et al.22 A sphygmomanometer cuff was applied to the upper arm and was inflated to a pressure midway between DBP and SBP for 15 minutes. Blood was withdrawn before and immediately after the occlusion.
24-Hour Ambulatory Blood Pressure Recordings
Ambulatory blood pressure was measured over a 24-hour period in
the subjects natural environments by a portable Spacelabs SL-90202
recorder (Spacelabs). SBP, DBP, and mean arterial blood
pressure were recorded every 20 minutes, and an average value was
computed for each individual over the entire 24-hour period. Two
subjects in the NC group and 4 subjects in the BH group were not
willing to participate in the 24-hour recording.
Blood Sampling and Biochemical Assays
The first 3 to 4 mL of blood was always discarded. Blood samples
were collected in tubes containing 1:10 (vol/vol) 0.13 mol/L sodium
citrate (Venoject, Terumo Europe NV); 1:10 0.45 mol/L sodium citrate
buffer, pH 4.3 (Stabilyte, Biopool AB); and 1:10
platelet-stabilizing buffer (Diatube H, Diagnostica
Stago) for determination of t-PA antigen, t-PA activity, and PAI-1
antigen, respectively. The tubes were kept on ice, and plasma was
isolated within 15 minutes by centrifugation at 4°C
and 2000g for 20 minutes. Plasma was immediately frozen and
stored at -70°C.
A solid-phase immunosorbent assay with trinitrobenzoylated poly-D-lysine as a stimulator was used for determination of t-PA activity in plasma (Novo Nordisk).23 For determination of t-PA and PAI-1 antigen, the reagent kits TintElize t-PA and TintElize PAI-1 (Biopool AB) were used. Intra-assay coefficients of variation in our laboratory are 4.3%, 3.9%, and 4.5% for t-PA activity, t-PA antigen, and PAI-1 antigen, respectively. Plasma insulin was assayed in duplicate by radioimmunoassay (Diagnostic Products Corporation). Serum cholesterol and triglyceride were determined by use of the enzymatic method (Boehringer Mannheim). HDL cholesterol was analyzed according to Seigler and Wu,24 and LDL cholesterol was computed according to the formula of Friedwald et al25 as follows:
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None of the subjects had a triglyceride value >4.5 mmol/L, which would have made the use of this formula inappropriate.
Statistical Analysis
Standard statistical methods were used, including
univariate linear regression analyses. Unless
otherwise stated, values are presented as mean±SEM.
Between-group comparisons of normally distributed variables
were performed by one-way ANOVA. Differences in abnormally
distributed fibrinolytic variables between the groups were
evaluated by the Mann-Whitney U test. Changes in response to
venous occlusion were tested by the Wilcoxon rank sum test
against the null hypothesis of no change. A value of P<.05
(two-tailed test) was considered significant.
Fibrinolytic variables were fit to univariate and multivariate regression models after logarithmic transformation. Significant correlations were checked by computation of Spearmans rank correlation of crude values, which in all cases yielded similar results. Forward stepwise multiple regression was used to find patterns of significant predictors of t-PA and PAI-1 levels (F to enter=4). The following variables, all of which showed univariate correlation with the fibrinolytic parameters, were tested in the model: BMI, sagittal diameter, fasting insulin level, cholesterol level, triglyceride level, and 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure.
| Results |
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Borderline-Hypertensive Subjects Versus Control
Subjects
Borderline-hypertensive subjects had a higher plasma
concentration of t-PA antigen both at rest and after venous occlusion
than control subjects (Table 2). There were no
significant differences in t-PA activity or PAI-1 antigen levels
between the two groups. As expected, t-PA and PAI-1 antigen levels
declined and t-PA activity increased between 8 and 10:30
AM, the changes being similar in the two groups. Venous
occlusion caused significant increases in the plasma concentrations of
t-PA activity and antigen as well as of PAI-1 antigen. The increase in
t-PA antigen and activity in response to venous occlusion was
significantly greater in borderline-hypertensive subjects than in
normotensive control subjects.
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To rule out the effect of obesity, we also did a matched-pair
analysis in 15 normotensive and 15 borderline-hypertensive,
nonobese subjects matched for BMI
28 kg/m2.
Between-group comparison showed that borderline-hypertensive
subjects had significantly higher t-PA antigen (P=.013)
levels at rest and tended to have somewhat higher PAI-1 antigen levels
(P=.070). t-PA activity levels were similar between groups.
However, in response to venous occlusion, borderline-hypertensive
subjects showed greater t-PA activity and greater release of t-PA
antigen (P=.012 and P=.0009, respectively).
Correlations
In univariate regression analyses across the
whole group (n=56), PAI-1 and t-PA antigen were inversely correlated
with t-PA activity (r=-.86 and r=.68,
respectively, P<.0001 for both). PAI-1 and t-PA antigen
were positively correlated (r=.68, P<.0001).
As shown in Table 3, PAI-1 and t-PA antigen were directly correlated and t-PA activity was inversely correlated with BMI, sagittal diameter, fasting insulin, and triglyceride concentrations (P<.05 for each variable). In addition, PAI-1 and t-PA antigen were inversely correlated and t-PA activity was positively correlated with HDL cholesterol. t-PA and PAI-1 antigen correlated directly with 24-hour ambulatory SBP, mean arterial blood pressure, and DBP (r=.33 to r=.42, P<.05 for each variable), and somewhat weaker inverse correlations were observed for t-PA activity (r=-.26 to r=-.31). Auscultatory SBP and DBP recorded during the experiment correlated with t-PA antigen levels (r=.32, P<.05 for both) but were not significantly related to t-PA activity or PAI-1 antigen. t-PA activity and antigen and PAI-1 response to venous occlusion did not show significant correlation to any of the above variables.
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Multiple Regression Analyses
In stepwise regression analyses, 24-hour mean
arterial pressure emerged as the single most powerful
predictor of t-PA antigen levels. The relation between t-PA antigen and
24-hour mean arterial pressure remained after introduction
of BMI, fasting insulin, and triglyceride levels in the
model. By contrast, in stepwise regression analyses of t-PA
activity and PAI-1 antigen, BMI emerged as the primary determinant. In
a bivariate regression model, the relation between t-PA activity and
24-hour mean arterial pressure was canceled out after
introduction of BMI (partial r=-.50,
P<.001). However, PAI-1 was explained by both BMI (partial
r=.48, P<.001) and 24-hour mean
arterial pressure (partial r=.29,
P<.05).
| Discussion |
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The direct relation between global and regional adiposity and metabolic factors (mainly insulin and triglyceride) on the one hand and PAI levels on the other has been reported by several investigators (eg, Reference 2020 ). Unfortunately, in most studies on fibrinolytic function in essential hypertension, anthropometric and metabolic data have not been reported.10 11 12 13 However, in the study by Landin and coworkers,26 11 hypertensive men were carefully matched with normotensive subjects for anthropometric data. Despite this fact, hypertensive subjects not only displayed significantly elevated PAI activity compared with control subjects but also increased triglyceride, cholesterol, and insulin levels. t-PA was not measured in the study by Landin et al. In the study by Jansson and coworkers,9 the hypertensive group was selected on the criteria of elevated blood pressure (DBP 90 to 109 mm Hg) and high serum cholesterol levels (>6.0 mmol/L). In addition to increased PAI-1 activity and decreased t-PA activity, the hypertensive subjects also displayed increased triglyceride levels and a tendency toward higher BMI and WHR, and a greater number of hypertensive subjects were smokers compared with control subjects. The inverse relation between t-PA antigen and HDL cholesterol was demonstrated previously by Ridker and coworkers,27 although blood pressure was not reported in their study.
Studies of the capacity of the fibrinolytic system in hypertension are scarce. In line with the present results, Palermo and coworkers13 found an increased t-PA antigen release in response to mental and physical stress in hypertensive subjects compared with normotensive subjects; however, the increase in t-PA activity was attenuated compared with control subjects, which they ascribed to increased PAI activity in the hypertensive subjects. Jansson and coworkers9 found an attenuated t-PA activity response to venous occlusion in hypertensive subjects. However, as mentioned above, the hypertensive subjects in that study were also hypercholesterolemic, and cholesterol level was inversely correlated to t-PA capacity.
It is extremely difficult to conclude from the above-mentioned studies on established hypertensive subjects whether the observed increase in PAI activity in conjunction with decreased t-PA activity is due to the increased blood pressure per se or rather to early interrelated metabolic disturbances. This problem is further underscored by the fact that tissue PAI and t-PA activity in rats have been reported to be unaffected by experimentally induced hypertension.28
In the present study, the BH group had distribution of body weight, BMI, and regional fat distribution (as assessed by the sagittal diameter and WHR) similar to the control subjects and were devoid of blood lipid derangements often associated with established hypertension. Furthermore, none of the subjects was on any medication, and presence of atherosclerotic vascular disease would be highly unlikely in healthy subjects of this age group. Therefore, it is reasonable to assume that the derangement of the fibrinolytic system is a primary phenomenon associated with early blood pressure elevation rather than a secondary result of metabolic disturbances or atherosclerotic lesions. The validity of this interpretation is further strengthened by the observation that basal t-PA antigen levels and stimulated release during venous occlusion also were significantly greater when nonobese subjects were carefully matched for BMI.
The direct relation between PAI-1 antigen and degree of obesity is well established. Nevertheless, to the best of our knowledge, we are the first to describe an equally strong but inverse relation between BMI and t-PA activity. The reason that this has not been reported to date is probably that improper collection methods were used previously, with loss of t-PA activity during blood sampling resulting in t-PA activity near or even below the detection limit. The recent introduction of blood sampling tubes containing a citrate anticoagulant at low pH, which immediately reduces the blood pH, results in an effective inhibition of t-PA/PAI-1 complex formation and thus preserves t-PA activity.
Mean and median plasma t-PA activity levels (10 and 9.3 pmol/L, respectively) were lower than those we found previously (about 20 pmol/L) in our laboratory among young, healthy men in this age group. In the present study, however, the control subjects were selected from the same population as the borderline-hypertensive subjects. In our previous studies on hemostatic stress responses, the healthy volunteers had been recruited mainly among hospital employees and medical students. It may be that individuals with a low metabolic risk profile are overrepresented in the latter group. In fact, the NC group had a higher mean BMI (25.9) compared with the healthy men we studied previously (mean, 22 to 23). This assumption was further strengthened by the fact that there was a strong inverse relation between t-PA activity and BMI.
In conclusion, the main finding of the present study is that young subjects with a mild, borderline elevation of blood pressure have increased levels of t-PA antigen as well as an increased t-PA response to venous occlusion. The results suggest a direct relation between t-PA antigen and blood pressure levels, whereas t-PA activity is more dependent on obesity and metabolic factors. The increased t-PA antigen levels in this very early stage of hypertension are of particular interest because recent prospective studies have shown that t-PA antigen but not PAI activity is a risk factor for both myocardial infarction5 and thromboembolic stroke7 as well as for mortality in patients with stable coronary artery disease.6
| Selected Abbreviations and Acronyms |
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| Acknowledgments |
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Received February 20, 1995; first decision March 21, 1995; accepted June 20, 1995.
| References |
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