Objective:

To investigate the levels of circulating endothelial cells (CECs), endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), and endothelium-dependent vasomotor cytokines in children with essential hypertension, highlighting the significance of these markers in understanding pediatric hypertension.

Key Findings:

• CECs were significantly higher in the hypertension group compared to controls (p < 0.01), indicating potential endothelial injury.
• EPCs were significantly lower in the hypertension group (p < 0.01), suggesting impaired regenerative capacity.
• Concentrations of NO2− and 6-keto-PGF1a were significantly lower in the hypertension group (p < 0.01 and p < 0.0001, respectively), which may reflect endothelial dysfunction.
• Levels of ET-1 and TXB2 were significantly higher in the hypertension group (p < 0.0001 and p < 0.001, respectively), indicating a pro-inflammatory state.
• NO2− and 6-keto-PGF1a showed a negative correlation with 24-hour mean arterial pressure (r = −0.31, p < 0.01; r = −0.44, p < 0.001), suggesting their potential role as biomarkers.
• TXB2 and ET-1 levels exhibited a positive correlation with mean arterial pressure (r = 0.24, p < 0.05; r = 0.31, p < 0.01), reinforcing their association with hypertension.

Interpretation:

Alterations in CECs, EPCs, and endothelium-dependent vasomotor cytokines in pediatric essential hypertension suggest a role of endothelial dysfunction in its pathogenesis, which may have implications for early diagnosis and treatment.

Limitations:

• The study is limited to a specific age range (9-16 years) and may not represent all pediatric populations, potentially affecting generalizability.
• The sample size for the control group is relatively small (30 children), which may limit the statistical power of the findings.
• The cross-sectional design limits the ability to establish causation, necessitating longitudinal studies for further validation.

Conclusion:

The findings indicate that endothelial dysfunction may be involved in pediatric essential hypertension, highlighting the need for further research to explore these associations and their clinical implications.