Urinary cortisol to cortisone metabolites in hypertensive obese children

Childhood obesity is accompanied by a variety of cardiovascular risk factors (hypertension, insulin resistance, dyslipidaemia) which tend to aggregate (syndrome X). 11beta-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase (11beta-HSD) is supposed to play a role in the pathogenesis of hypertension and the development of syndrome X. There are two isoforms of 11beta-HSD. 11beta-HSD-2 is responsible for the inactivation of cortisol to inactive cortisone. In the case of impaired enzyme activity the ratio of urinary tetrahydrocortisol (THF)+ its isomer allotetrahydrocortisol (5alpha-THF)/tetrahydrocortisone (THE) is elevated. 11beta-HSD-1 is an oxo-reductase, which type catalyses the conversion of cortisone to cortisol. The aim of the present study was to investigate if there was any alteration in the urinary cortisol metabolites reflecting 11beta-HSD activity in hypertensive obese children (no.=15) as compared to normotensive obese (no.=11) and normotensive non-obese children (no.=15). We found an increased excretion of cortisol metabolites in hypertensive obese children compared to obese and normal - weight children having normal blood pressure. The ratio of THF+5alpha(THF/THE had a significant correlation with systolic blood pressure. On the basis of our study the ratio of THF+5alpha-THF/ THE reflecting on altered enzyme activity seems to be an independent factor influencing especially systolic blood pressure in hypertensive obese children.