DYSLIPOPROTEINEMIC CHANGES IN BORDERLINE HYPERTENSION

The present study examined plasma lipoprotein, lipoprotein lipase, hep atic lipase, and insulin levels in men with borderline hypertension (d iastolic blood pressure 85 to 94 mm Hg) compared with age-matched norm otensive control subjects (diastolic blood pressure less than or equal to 80 mm Hg, n=75+75). High-density lipoprotein (HDL) subclasses were determined in a subset (n=45+45). While total and low-density lipopro tein cholesterol levels were similar, levels of very-low-density lipop rotein (VLDL) cholesterol and triglycerides (0.46 versus 0.41 mmol/L, P=.027, and 1.0 versus 0.85 mmol/L, P=.031) and total triglycerides (1 .53 versus 1.33 mmol/L, P=.009) were elevated and HDL cholesterol was reduced in the borderline group compared with the normotensive group ( 1.17 Versus 1.26 mmol/L, P=.043). The HDL subclass HDL(2b) concentrati on was lower (0.16 versus 0.24 mmol/L, P=.006), while HDL(3b) and HDL( 3c) concentrations were higher in the borderline group (0.38 versus 0. 32 mmol/L, P=.016, and 0.19 versus 0.16 mmol/L, P=.042). Significantly higher activities of hepatic lipase in the borderline group (282 vers us 232 mU/mL, P=.024) and significant correlations between lipoprotein lipase activity and VLDL and HDL concentrations suggest an involvemen t of these enzymes in the development of these differences. When adjus ted for body mass index or insulin level, all differences disappeared, except for HDL(3b) and HDL(3c) concentrations, which remained signifi cantly elevated. These results indicate that dyslipoproteinemic change s are present in early hypertension. Although most of these changes ar e related to obesity, alterations in HDL profile were not explained by influences of body mass index and insulin.