BACKGROUND: The aim of our study was to evaluate the serum concentration of sialic acid (SA) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in prehypertensive patients and the possible correlations between these 2 factors with blood pressure in such patients.

MATERIAL AND METHODS: We studied 61 prehypertensive patients, 70 hypertensive patients, and 50 controls with normal blood pressure. Lipid profile, hs-CRP, SA, and body mass index (BMI) were estimated in all groups. Associations between SA and hs-CRP and blood pressure were analyzed using multiple linear regressions.

RESULTS: SA and hs-CRP levels were higher in the prehypertension group than that in the control group and were lower than that in the hypertension group. Multiple linear regression demonstrated that fasting glucose, BMI, SA, and hs-CRP correlated with systolic blood pressure and that low-density lipoprotein, BMI, SA, and hs-CRP correlated independently with diastolic pressure (P<0.05).

CONCLUSIONS: Our findings suggest that in prehypertension, there is an association between serum SA and hs-CRP levels and blood pressure.

Keywords: C-Reactive Protein - metabolism, Blood Pressure, Case-Control Studies, Diastole, Hypertension - physiopathology, Linear Models, N-Acetylneuraminic Acid - blood, Prehypertension - physiopathology, Systole