Parental history of hypertension is associated with coagulation–fibrinolytic balance disorders

Abstract It has been previously shown that essential hypertension (EH) is associated with coagulation–fibrinolytic balance disorders. Our study was conducted in order to investigate disturbances in coagulation–fibrinolysis in offsprings of hypertensive parents. Two groups were studied: 44 healthy normotensive individuals (17 male, 27 female, age range 12–22 years) with a documented family history of hypertension and 33 individuals (14 male, 19 female, age range 11–21 years) without a family history of essential hypertension. The following parameters were determined in both groups: plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen, tissue plasminogen activator antigen, fibrinogen, fibrin degradation products, thrombomodulin, protein S antigen, protein C activity, von Willebrand factor Ag, factor VII and factor XII activity. Additionally, systolic and diastolic blood pressure, insulin levels, blood lipids and heart rate were determined. The two groups were not found to have differences with respect to age, gender, body mass index, blood lipids and insulin levels. Hypertensive offsprings had significantly higher plasma levels of plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 antigen, fibrinogen, fibrin degradation products, protein S antigen and factor XII activity, while no differences were observed to the other haemostatic variables studied. Hence, offsprings of hypertensives had significantly higher diastolic blood pressure and heart rate. In conclusion, alterations regarding blood pressure, heart rate and fibrinolytic function exist in offsprings of hypertensive parents compared to individuals without family history of hypertension.