LAUSR

Objective: Endothelial dysfunction may be estimated by reduced endothelial glycocalyx (EG). However, the role of EG as a hypertension mediated organ damage (HMOD) still remains controversial. Cigarette smoking represents a significant CV risk factor. Aim of this study is the investigation of the EG’s role in first diagnosed and never treated patients with stage I and II essential hypertension regarding smoking habit. Design and method: We studied 194 non-diabetic, first diagnosed and never-treated hypertensive patients (mean age=49 + 10 years, 60% males, 35% smokers). Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (24 h ABPM) and endothelial dysfunction (PBR5–25) were estimated in each patient before treatment initiation. Results: We found that mean 24 h systolic and diastolic ABPM levels were 140 + 8 mmHg and 87 + 9 mmHg, respectively. Regarding EG, mean values of PBR5–25, PBR5-9, PBR10-19 and PBR20-25 were 2.08 + 0.3 m, 1.16 + 0.2 m, 2.22 + 0.34 m and 2.65 + 0.8 m, respectively. No correlations were found between PBR levels and 24 h ABPM regarding the whole population. However, when we performed multiple regression analysis in a subgroup of male smoker hypertensives (n = 46, mean age=47 + 11 years), a significant association (Beta = 0.29, p = 0.05) was revealed between PBR20-25 and 24 h systolic ABPM. Conclusions: In first diagnosed and never treated arterial hypertension, endothelial dysfunction, represented by reduced EG, is independently related to systolic BP burden only in male smokers. Probably EG might play a significant role regarding CV risk estimation in specific groups of hypertensive patients.