Dynamic thiol/disulphide homeostasis in patients with newly diagnosed primary hypertension.

We aimed to investigate the thiol/disulphide homeostasis in patients with newly diagnosed primary hypertension with a novel and automated method. Blood thiol/disulphide homeostasis, which consists of native thiol/disulphide exchanges, was investigated in 45 patients with primary hypertension and 45 healthy controls. The levels of native thiol, total thiol, and native thiol/total thiol ratio were lower while the disulphide level and disulphide/native thiol and disulphide/total thiol ratios were higher in patients with primary hypertension when compared with those in the control group. Positive correlation was detected between 24-hour systolic and diastolic blood pressure levels and disulphide/native thiol ratio. With reference to the stepwise multiple linear regression model; increase in disulphide/native thiol ratio and log(24-hour urine microalbumin) and decrease in native thiol/total thiol ratio are independent predictors of 24-hour systolic and diastolic blood pressure. This study demonstrated that thiol/disulphide homeostasis was shifted toward disulphide formation in patients with primary hypertension.