Carbonic anhydrase I and II autoantibody levels in primary hypertension: our preliminary results.

OBJECTIVE The pathogenesis of primary hypertension (HT) is still not completely clear, although autoimmunity has been implicated in recent years. Carbonic anhydrase (CA) is an enzyme involved in a number of important metabolic processes. CA I and II autoantibodies have been linked to various autoimmune diseases. However, CA I and II autoantibody levels in primary HT have not been previously investigated. The purpose of this study was, therefore, to investigate levels of CA I and II autoantibodies in primary HT. PATIENTS AND METHODS Fifty-six patients newly diagnosed with primary HT and 33 healthy individuals were included in the study. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed following office controls. Blood specimens were collected under appropriate conditions for CA I and II autoantibody level investigation and biochemical tests. Urine sodium and protein excretion were measured after 24 h. Demographic and biochemical parameters and CA I and II autoantibody levels were then compared between the patient and healthy groups. RESULTS CA II autoantibody and uric acid levels were significantly higher in the hypertensive group than in the control group (p=0.005, and p<0.001, respectively). CA II autoantibody (exp s: 79.06 CI: 4.44-1407.02) (p=0.003) and uric acid elevation (exp s: 2.10 CI: 1.31- 3.34) (p=0.002) were identified as independent predictors of HT development at logistic regression analysis. CONCLUSIONS CA II autoantibody levels were higher in hypertensive patients, and this elevation is an independent predictor of HT development.