Nitric oxide and cell adhesion molecules in essential hypertension: a case control study

To elucidate the significance of nitric oxide (NO), E-selectin and sVCAM-1 in essential hypertension, we determined the levels of these molecules in healthy volunteers and patients with essential hypertension, evaluated their correlations and association with the disease. This case-control study, the first of its kind from India, revealed significant association of low levels of NO and high levels of E-selectin and sVCAM-1 with the disease and negative correlations of NO with the cell adhesion molecules and diastolic blood pressure. An impairment of the normal homeostasis of these molecules is envisaged to play a significant role in the pathophysiology and hence, the risk of essential hypertension.