Assessment of Endothelial Cell Adhesion Molecules in Hypertensive Patients in Port Harcourt, Nigeria

Abstract

Hypertension is a leading cardiovascular risk factor associated with significant morbidity and mortality worldwide. A major contributor to hypertension-related vascular complications is endothelial dysfunction, characterized by increased expression of adhesion molecules such as Intercellular Adhesion Molecule-1 (ICAM-1) and Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 (VCAM-1). Elevated levels of these molecules have been implicated in vascular inflammation, leukocyte recruitment, and atherosclerosis, making them potential biomarkers of endothelial activation. This study assessed serum levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 in hypertensive patients compared with non-hypertensive controls in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. A cross-sectional comparative study was conducted among 200 participants comprising 100 hypertensive patients and 100 normal controls. Five milliliters of venous blood was collected, and serum levels of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Data were analyzed with SPSS version 23.0, and results were expressed as mean ± SEM. Independent Student’s t-test was used to compare means, with significance set at p < 0.05. Hypertensive subjects demonstrated significantly elevated ICAM-1 (621.11 ± 3.70 ng/mL) and VCAM-1 (166.52 ± 2.43 ng/mL) compared with controls (503.82 ± 2.62 ng/mL and 122.61 ± 2.15 ng/mL, respectively; p < 0.0001). No significant differences were observed between males and females (p > 0.05). Similarly, treated hypertensive patients showed slightly lower ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 levels compared with untreated counterparts, though not statistically significant. The findings confirm that hypertension is associated with endothelial activation, as reflected by elevated adhesion molecule levels. Therefore, routine assessment of ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 among hypertensive patients is highly recommended.