The Relationship between Serum Apelin Concentration and Selected Anthropometric Parameters, Serum Lipids and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Young Subjects with Primary Arterial Hypertension

Abstract

Objective: Apelin and its specific receptor, APJ system, seems to be involved in the development of arterial hypertension (HTN). The aim was to estimate plasma apelin concentration in young patients (pts) with primary HTN and to assess the relationship between apelin and selected anthropometric parameters, serum lipids and carotid intima-media thickness (right and left cIMT). Methods: 70 pts (48 males, 22 females) aged 18-33 with newly diagnosed, untreated primary HTN were recruited. There were 15 age- and gender-matched healthy people in the control group. Anthropometric and BP measurements were done. Fasting serum apelin and lipids were evaluated. The cIMT was estimated using ultrasonography. Results: Serum apelin was higher in whole group (but not statistically significant, 98.04 ± 51.82 vs. 79.19 ± 39.51 pg/ml, p >0.05) and in males with HTN (compared to healthy males, 105.86 ± 53.21 vs. 61.42 ± 24.04 pg/ ml, p= 0.04). We observed a statistically significant negative correlation between apelin concentration and left cIMT in normal-weight women (R = -0.74), a negative correlation between triglyceride levels and apelin concentration in overweight subjects (R = -0.49), a negative correlation between apelin concentration and right cIMT (R = -0.99) and a positive correlation between apelin concentration and WHR (R = 0.99) in obese women. Conclusion: In whole examined group with HTN there were no statistically significant differences in serum apelin and no relationships between its concentration and anthropometric parameters, serum lipids or cIMT. However, higher serum apelin concentration in young males with HTN and some statistically significant correlations between serum apelin and analyzed parameters in groups divided by sex and BMI may suggest a possible role of apelin in the development of HTN. Further studies are required to clarify the relationship between apelin, metabolic parameters and the early markers of atherosclerosis in pts with HTN.