Polymorphonuclear leukocyte priming and counts are in correlation with blood pressure parameters

Background: In hypertensive patients, the polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNLs) are primed, concomitantly contributing to oxidative stress and chronic low-grade inflammation. Furthermore, in the Sabra rat model of salt-induced hypertension, priming of PMNLs, oxidative stress and inflammation antecede the development of hypertension. In the present study we tested the hypothesis that PMNL priming and PMNL and white blood cells (WBC) counts are interrelated with blood pressure values. Therefore, we have evaluated the correlation between WBC and PMNL counts, PMNL priming parameters and blood pressure in untreated essential hypertension patients (EH) and age and gender healthy controls. Methods: Diastolic blood pressure (DBP), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) values were correlated by linear regression analysis with the rates of superoxide release from separated PMNLs and with WBC and PMNL counts. Results: The rate of superoxide release from PMNLs was higher in EH patients compared to their healthy controls. The rate of superoxide release from PMNLs correlated with SBP, DBP and MAP. WBC and PMNL counts were all significantly correlated with blood pressure values. Conclusion: The results of the study offer an additional mechanism involving primed PMNLs and elevated PMNL counts in the pathogenesis of hypertension and its late cardiovascular complications.