Leandi Lammertyn1, Aletta E Schutte1, Marlien Pieters2, Rudolph Schutte3. 1. Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Potchefstroom, South Africa. 2. Centre of Excellence for Nutrition (CEN), North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Potchefstroom, South Africa. 3. Hypertension in Africa Research Team (HART), North-West University (Potchefstroom Campus), Potchefstroom, South Africa. Electronic address: rudolph.schutte@nwu.ac.za.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Hypertension is highly prevalent in black South Africans in which morbidity and mortality from stroke are on the increase. Elevated blood pressure and haemostatic markers can induce changes in blood rheology and endothelial function which could result in a procoagulant state that increases the risk for cerebrovascular disease. Information about the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems of people from African descent are limited. We therefore, investigated the haemostatic profile and its relationships with blood pressure in black South Africans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured ambulatory blood pressure and haemostatic markers of 201 black and 208 white school teachers. The haemostatic markers included measurements representing coagulation and fibrinolysis (von Willebrand factor, fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, fibrin D-dimer and clot lysis time). RESULTS: Black participants displayed significantly higher blood pressure, von Willebrand factor, fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and D-dimer levels and longer clot lysis times (p≤0.001). Single, partial and multiple regression analyses showed that systolic (p≤0.011) and diastolic blood pressure (p=0.010) correlated positively with D-dimer in black participants, while systolic (p≤0.001) and daytime diastolic blood pressure (p=0.011) correlated negatively with clot lysis time in white participants. CONCLUSION: The black population had a more prothrombotic profile, with higher levels of coagulation markers and inhibited fibrinolysis, than the white study participants. The positive association between blood pressure and elevated D-dimer in the blacks may contribute to the high prevalence of hypertension and related increased cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk in this group.
INTRODUCTION:Hypertension is highly prevalent in black South Africans in which morbidity and mortality from stroke are on the increase. Elevated blood pressure and haemostatic markers can induce changes in blood rheology and endothelial function which could result in a procoagulant state that increases the risk for cerebrovascular disease. Information about the coagulation and fibrinolytic systems of people from African descent are limited. We therefore, investigated the haemostatic profile and its relationships with blood pressure in black South Africans. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We measured ambulatory blood pressure and haemostatic markers of 201 black and 208 white school teachers. The haemostatic markers included measurements representing coagulation and fibrinolysis (von Willebrand factor, fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, fibrin D-dimer and clot lysis time). RESULTS: Black participants displayed significantly higher blood pressure, von Willebrand factor, fibrinogen, plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 and D-dimer levels and longer clot lysis times (p≤0.001). Single, partial and multiple regression analyses showed that systolic (p≤0.011) and diastolic blood pressure (p=0.010) correlated positively with D-dimer in black participants, while systolic (p≤0.001) and daytime diastolic blood pressure (p=0.011) correlated negatively with clot lysis time in white participants. CONCLUSION: The black population had a more prothrombotic profile, with higher levels of coagulation markers and inhibited fibrinolysis, than the white study participants. The positive association between blood pressure and elevated D-dimer in the blacks may contribute to the high prevalence of hypertension and related increased cardiovascular and cerebrovascular risk in this group.
Authors: Howard D Sesso; Monik C Jiménez; Lu Wang; Paul M Ridker; Julie E Buring; J Michael Gaziano Journal: J Am Heart Assoc Date: 2015-09-21 Impact factor: 5.501