Lipid peroxidation in patients with essential hypertension.

Plasma lipid peroxide levels and the susceptibility of erythrocytes to lipid peroxidation were significantly increased in patients with essential hypertension. Patients with retinopathy had higher lipid peroxide levels compared to those without retinopathy. No change was observed in spontaneous hemolysis test values, an indicator of vitamin E status, and erythrocyte glutathione levels of essential hypertensives compared to normotensives. However, erythrocyte glutathione levels were found to be decreased in patients with retinopathy. These results showed that lipid peroxidation was increased in patients with essential hypertension and that this increase was more pronounced in those with retinopathy.