Prognostic Risk Models for the Development of Cardiovascular Dysfunction in Adolescents with Essential Hypertension

We present prognostic risk models for structural and functional cardiovascular disorders in Caucasian adolescents (Russians) with essential hypertension aged 14-17 years (15.92±1.12) taking into account biochemical (catecholamines and cortisol) and genetic parameters (carriage of polymorphic variants of α2A-adrenergic receptor gene ARA2A (-1291С>G), norepinephrine transporter NET (-1287G>A), and D2-dopamine receptor DRD2 (-141C Ins/Del) and the data of psychological testing. Prognostically significant risk factors for increased specific peripheral vascular resistance and variability of daytime systolic BP were a combination of [CC+AA] genotypes of ADRA2A -1291C>G and NET -1287G>A polymorphisms, cortisol level, anxiety, and proneness to conflict. The combination of genotypes [CC+GG+II] of polymorphisms -1291C>G ADRA2A, -1287G>A NET and -141C Ins/Del DRD is prognostically significant, with the GG genotype NET being epistatic.