Relationship between blood pressure variability and serum dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate levels

Decreased diurnal blood pressure variability and low dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels are important predictors of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between DHEAS levels and diurnal blood pressure variability in normotensive subjects and in patients with essential hypertension of both genders. An ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM), Meditech O2 device and radioimmunoassay were used for ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and the determination of DHEAS levels, respectively. A close correlation (P < .001) was found between the diurnal indices and plasma DHEAS levels of the 387 subjects (86 normotensive and 301 hypertensive patients) participating in the study. Decreased plasma DHEAS levels were associated in both genders, and in both normotensive and hypertensive patients with significantly (P < .001) lower diurnal indices. There was a close correlation (P < .001) between the age-related decrease in plasma DHEAS levels and diurnal indices in both genders. Systolic and diastolic blood pressure variability changed parallel to plasma DHEAS levels in both genders, whether hypertension was present or not. Additional investigations are needed to find out whether reduced DHEAS levels play a role in decreased diurnal indices or whether both can be traced back to one and the same cause.