Circadian urinary excretion of catecholamine, plasma atrial natriuretic peptide, endothelin and neuropeptide Y in obese patients with hypertension

Obesity increases the risk of developing hypertension by two-to fourfold, with more that one third of all cases of hypertension attributable to obesity. The present study tested the role of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), endothelin-1,2 (ET-1,2) and neuropeptide Y (NPY) in pathogenesis of obesity hypertension. The plasma concentrations of ANP, ET-1,2 and NPY were determined in the peripheral venous blood by radioimmunoassay in 27 obese hypertensive patients (group I), in 24 obese normotensive patients (group II), and in 35 normal subjects (group III). RESULTS: Mean plasma ANP was significantly higher in obese than in normal subjects. ANP levels were higher in patients group I than in those group II and I. In patients of group I plasma ANP concentrations correlated with III BMI and mean blood pressure. Plasma levels of ET-1,2 and NPY were similar in patients group I, II and III.