The Levels Of Plasma Hydrogen Sulfide And Nitric Oxide And Their Clinical Implications In Patients With Essential Hypertension

OBJECTIVE: To analyze levels of plasma hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and nitric oxide (NO) in essential hypertension patients and investigate whether they are involved in the pathogenesis of early stage essential hypertension. METHODS: 42 essential hypertension patients were randomly selected and divided into 3 groups according to hypertension grouping criteria: group I (total 14 patients), group II (total 13 patients) and group III (total 15 patients). Controls were 10 healthy volunteer. Blood pressure were measured by mercury sphygmomameter. Concentration of plasma hydrogen sulfide (H₂S) and nitric oxide were determined by spectrometer. Results were analyzed by statistics method. There was statistical difference when P<0.05 and significant difference when P<0.01.RESULTS: (1) The levels of H2S in hypertensives ( 37.69+ 1.86 μmol/L) were significantly reduced than that of normal controls ( 51.41 ± 1.41 μmol/L, P <0.01);whereas the levels of nitric oxide in hypertensives (44.07 + 2.93 μ mol/L) were significantly increased than that of normal controls (67.48 +1.23 u mol/L), P<0.01. (2)The concentrations of plasma H2S in essential hypertension class I, II, III group were 48.66+1.27 u mol/L, 37.65 + 1.76 u mol/L, 26.75 ± 1.32 u mol/L respectively. There were significant differences between any two of the groups (P<0.01);the levels of nitric oxide in the three groups were 62.77+1.04 P mol/L, 41.46 + 2.20 n mol/L, 28.88 ± 1.13 u mol/L respectively, and the differences were also significant (P<0.01). (3) In hypertension group, there was negative correlation between plasma H2S and systolic or diastolic pressure (r = -0.7703, r = -0.7330, P<0.01);there was negative correlation between nitric oxide level and systolic or diastolic pressure ( r =-0.6490, r =-0.7116, P<0.01);and there was positive correlation between H2S level and nitric oxide level (r= 0.9248, P<0.05) . CONCLUSION: The concentration of plasma hydrogen sulfide (H2S) was lower in essential hypertension patients,and it suggest that endogenous low H2S is involved in the pathogenesis and development of hypertension and correlated with hypertension degree. There was positive correlation between H2S level and nitric oxide level,which sugguest that the endogenous H2S and nitric oxide act together in the pathogenesis and development of hypertension. These data may provide novel idea in the research of prevention and therapy of essential hypertension.