High blood pressure (BP) in children and adolescents is associated with increased risk of persistent hypertension (HT) in adulthood and, consequently, cardiovascular disease and target organ damage.
Aim: The values of selected anthropometric parameters and laboratory test results including leptin and apelin concentration were evaluated with regard to averaged values of office BP measurements and 24-hour ABPM.
Material and methods: The study included 55 children: 23-with primary HT and coexisting overweight or obese (HT-OB), 16-with primary HT and normal weight (HT-NW), and 16 healthy children (C).
Results: The concentration of leptin and apelin in HT-OB children was significantly higher than in the C and HT-NW group. A similar finding for leptin level was demonstrated in comparison of HT-NW with C group. In children with HT-OB, the lack of decline in nocturnal DBP was associated with significantly higher BMI and the Cole's Index value. Children with HT-OB and lack of decline in nocturnal SBP showed lower leptin and insulin concentrations, and lower values of HOMA-IR as compared with dipping children. Positive correlation in the whole study group was found between adipokines levels and BP measurements. In conclusion, children with primary HT show higher concentration of adipokines compared with their healthy peers. The data on relationship of serum adipokines levels with anthropometric and BP parameters in children may be helpful to clarify the sequence of disturbances in the cardiovascular system in adults, which requires further examination.
Keywords: Apelin; children; hypertension; leptin; nocturnal blood pressure decline; primary obesity.