[Increased propensity to oxidation of LDL of hypertensives]

Increased incidence of atherosclerosis has been noted in hypertension, but prevention of ischemic heart disease has not been achieved. We studied the propensity to oxidation of LDL obtained from 15 nonsmoking hypertensives (mean age 51 +/- 10) before drug therapy, and compared the results with those of LDL obtained from a similar group of normotensive controls. After oxidation with copper ions (10 microM) there was substantially increased oxidation of LDL derived from the hypertensives in comparison to that of the controls. The mean values (nmol/mg protein +/- SD; n = 15) were: malondialdehyde 55 +/- 11, peroxides 224 +/- 52, and conjugated dienes 250 +/- 56, compared to values of 26 +/- 5, 123 +/- 31 and 175 +/- 44, respectively, in the control group (p less than 0.01). It is concluded that the increased propensity of LDL to oxidation in hypertension may be the link to atherosclerosis.