[Stable Nitric Oxide Metabolites Levels in Hypertensive Patients With Obesity and High Leptin Level].

OBJECTIVE: to investigate levels of the stable nitric oxide metabolites (NOx) in hypertensive patients with obesity and hyperleptinemia.

MATERIAL: We examined 124 untreated patients (45 men and 79 women) with essential hypertension (EH) (mean age 51.4+/-6.5 years, mean hypertension duration 8.5+/-7.6 years, 64% with visceral obesity) and 25 healthy volunteers (10 men and 15 women with comparable age).

RESULTS: NOx levels were significantly higher in hypertensives (43.18+/-21 mol/l) then in controls (28.3+/-9.6 mol/l; p=0.01). Obese hypertensives had lower NOx concentration than nonobese hypertensives (38.8+/-17.9 and 48.5+/-24.7 mol/l, respectively; <0.05). With increase of degree of obesity NOx levels decreased significantly (r=-0.3; p<0.05). NOx levels correlated with presence (r=-0.44; p<0,05) and degree of obesity (r=-0.3; p<0.05). Hypertensives with high leptin levels had lower NOx concentration (29+/-12.2 mol/l), compared to hypertensives with normal leptin levels (34. 7+/-10.5 mol/l) (p<0.05).