Masked hypertension and atherogenesis: the impact on adiponectin and resistin plasma levels

Recent evidence suggests that masked hypertension (MH) is a predictor of cardiovascular disease and that hypoadiponectinemia and hyperesistinemia may contribute to chronic inflammatory process, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, and accelerated atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to examine the adiponectin and resistin plasma levels in patients with MH and compare the findings with those of healthy normotensive persons matched for age, sex, body mass index, and other risk factors. Overall, 130 (60 men and 70 women) healthy persons (mean age, 45+/-12 years) who had clinic blood pressure values <140/90 mm Hg were studied. The study population underwent 24-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM). According to the ABPM recordings, 24 individuals (8 men and 16 women) had MH (daytime systolic blood pressure >or=135 mm Hg or daytime diastolic blood pressure >or=85 mm Hg; group A) and the remaining 106 participants (52 men and 54 women) had normal ABPM findings (group B). Adiponectin and resistin plasma levels were determined in both groups by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Significantly higher (P<.01) resistin levels (12+/-4 vs 6.8+/-3.6 ng/mL) were found in group A compared with group B, while the adiponectin plasma levels were significantly lower (P<.01) in group A compared with group B (6+/-2.3 vs 11+/-2.7 microg/mL). Findings suggest that patients with MH have lower adiponectin levels and higher resistin levels compared with normotensive individuals. This observation may have prognostic significance for future cardiovascular events in patients with MH.