DOI: 10.36347/sjams.2014.v02i06.097

Pages: 3345-3348

Although role of oxidative stress in the etiopathogenesis of hypertension (HT) development has been well documented, there is no far conclusive evidence regarding alteration in plasma total antioxidant activity (TAA) and nitric oxide (NO) levels in hypertensive smokers. Aims & objective of the study was to ascertain the plasma TAA, NO, uric acid and erythrocyte malondialdehyde (MDA) in normotensive and hypertensive smokers, and to determine their cumulative effect in disease pathology. Plasma TAA, NO, plasma uric acid and erythrocyte MDA levels were estimated in 120 subjects (30-55 years), categorized into three groups (40 subjects in each group) depending upon their smoking habit and blood pressure i.e. Healthy non smokers (Control group), normotensive smokers (Group I) and Hypertensive smokers (Group II); and compared it statistically by using student’s t- test. Plasma TAA and NO levels were significantly low (p<0.05, p< 0.001) in Group I and II, as compared to healthy controls where as plasma uric acid levels were increased insignificantly (p<0.1) in Group I and significantly (p<0.05) only in Group II. On the other hand, erythrocyte MDA levels were significantly high in both the study groups with respect to controls. Alteration in plasma TAA and uric acid along with endothelial dysfunction due to culprit effect of oxidative stress (via MDA production) may be responsible for development of HT in smokers. Therefore, change in dietary pattern and community based preventive approach should be encouraged in order to overcome the burden of hypertension as well as harmful effects of smoking.