Serum Lipids in Patients with White Coat Hypertension

Aim: Serum lipid levels were investigated in white coat hypertension in comparison with essential hypertension and normotension. Material and Methods: We selected three groups of patients, 40 essential hypertensives, 40 white coat hypertensives, and 40 normotensives. Blood samples were taken in the morning from peripheral veins after 12 hours fasting period. Plasma concentrations of total cholesterol, triglycerides, high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol, and glucose were determined by the enzymatic dry chemistry method using a Behring apparatus. Low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol values were computed according to the Friedewald formula. Results: Mean office blood pressure values were significantly higher in hypertensive patients and white coat hypertensive patients than those of control subjects (p0.001). Mean ambulatory blood pressure monitoring values were significantly higher in hypertensive patients than those of white coat hypertensives patients and control subjects but they were similar in white coat hypertensives patients and control subjects (p0.001 and p0.05, respectively). Total cholesterol and triglycerides levels were slightly higher in patients with hypertensive patients than white coat hypertensives and control groups, but this different was not significant statistically (p=0.07). Plasma HDL cholesterol, LDL cholesterol and glucose levels were not significantly different in each group (p0.05). Conclusion: Our data demonstrate that white coat hypertensive patients present similar lipid profile to normotensive people, so in our opinion, the white coat hypertension is a benign condition.