RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN BLOOD-PRESSURE VARIABILITY AND SERUM DEHYDROEPIANDROSTERONE-SULFATE LEVELS

Decreased diurnal blood pressure variability and lo tv dehydroepiandro sterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels are important predictors of cardiovascu lar morbidity and mortality. The aim of the study was to determine the relationship between DHEAS levels and diurnal blood pressure variabil ity in normotensive subjects and in patients with essential hypertensi on of both genders. An ambulatory blood pressure monitor (ABPM), Medit ech O2 device and radioimmunoassay were used for ambulatory blood pres sure monitoring and the determination of DHEAS levels, respectively. A close correlation (P < .001) was found between the diurnal indices an d plasma DHEAS levels of the 387 subjects (86 normotensive and 301 hyp ertensive 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 indi ces. There was a close correlation (P < .001) between the age-related decrease in plasma DHEAS levels and diurnal indices in both genders. S ystolic and diastolic blood pressure variability changed parallel to p lasma DHEAS levels in both genders, whether hypertension was present o r not. Additional investigations are needed to find out whether reduce d DHEAS levels play a role in decreased diurnal indices or whether bot h can be traced back to one and the same cause. (C) 1998 American Jour nal of Hypertension, Ltd.