Serum neurokinin B levels in newly diagnosed nondipper hypertensive patients

Abstract

Objective Cardiovascular diseases are more common in patients with nondipper hypertension (NDHT) compared with those with dipper hypertension (DHT). The aim of this study is to evaluate the serum neurokinin B levels in DHT and NDHT patients. Methods The study population included newly diagnosed hypertensive patients who were not under antihypertensive treatment. A total of 77 patients were evaluated with ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and divided into two groups: NDHT (n = 42) and DHT (n = 35). Plasma neurokinin B levels were measured using the ELISA method. Results Serum neurokinin B levels were significantly higher in the NDHT group compared with the DHT group [254 (180-888) and 207 (116-752) pg/ml, respectively; P = 0.024]. There is a positive correlation between the mean night-time systolic blood pressure and plasma neurokinin levels (r = 0.590; P < 0.001). On regression analysis, neurokinin B level was only found to be related to the mean night-time systolic blood pressure (unstandardized beta = -22.02 +/- 9.59; P < 0.001). Conclusion Plasma neurokinin B level is higher in patients with NDHT, indicating an unfavorable cardiovascular prognosis. There is a need for further studies that search for the relation between serum neurokinin B levels and NDHT. Copyright (C) 2015 Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc. All rights reserved.