Assessing the Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials in Subjects with Family History of Hypertension.

Background

Hypertension (HTN) has a genetic predisposition and it also impairs microcirculation, thereby, affecting the well vascularized structures like the brainstem and causing changes in Brainstem Auditory Evoked Potentials (BAEPs).

Purpose

To find out the usefulness of BAEPs as a screening tool in apparently healthy individuals with a family history of HTN.

Methods

One hundred and ten volunteers, aged 17 to 23 years, were enrolled in the study as participants with proper consent. After excluding the subjects with existing diseases or co-morbidities (e.g. diabetes, HTN, schizophrenia, neuropathy, etc.), those on ototoxic or neurotoxic drugs, a preliminary physical examination was performed, following which BAEPs were recorded with a proper device. Statistical analysis is done with SPSS 2016 software using the chi-square test.

Results

A consistent distortion in the inter-peak latency of III-V waves is noted when a family history of HTN is present in either parent or maternal grandparents. Other statistically significant findings are present in V/I% (HTN in mother), wave I (HTN in paternal grandfather), wave III (HTN in maternal grandfather), and inter-peak latency I-V (HTN in maternal grandmother).

Conclusion

BAEP may be used as a screening tool in individuals with a family history of HTN with supportive evidence from further studies in the near future.

Informations de copyright

© The Author(s) 2023.

Déclaration de conflit d'intérêts

The authors hereby certify that the work shown here is genuine, original, and not submitted anywhere, either in part or full. All necessary permission from the participants and institution has been taken.