Decreased nitric oxide in women with essential hypertension in prehypertensive phase.

Abstract

NO and 6-keto-PGF1alpha were significantly lower in women in prehypertensive phase of essential hypertension. Lower NO correlated with increased systolic blood pressure, but not with on natriuresis and calciuresis. These findings, together with the higher vascular reactivity index, indicate that endothelial dysfunction precedes the establishment of essential hypertension.