Abstract: AIM: To investigate the variation of pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A (PAPP-A) and C-reactive protein (CRP) in essential hypertension (EH) patients with left ventricular hypertrophy(LVH). METHODS: 49 patients with EH were examined by echocardiography to measure the inter-ventricular septum thickness (IVST), left ventricular posterior wall thickness(LVPWT) and left ventricular diastolic diameter(LVDD), and to calculate the left ventricular mass index (LVMI).The patients were divided into the left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) group and the non-LVH group according to the diagnostic criteria of left ventricular hypertrophy.The levels of PPAP-A were detected by double-antibody sandwich enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and the levels of hs-CRP were performed by double antibody radioimmunoassay. RESULTS: The levels of PAPP-A and hs-CRP were higher in the LVH group than the non-LVH [ 8.28 (5.90 ～ 30.91) mIU/L vs 4.39 (3.02 ～ 6.98) mIU/L, 8.58(0.90 ～ 35.8) mg/L vs 1.90 (0.50 ～ 2.23) mg/L, P all <0.05].The relevant analysis showed that PAPP-A and LVMI were significantly correlated (r =0.649, P <0.05);hs-CRP and LVMI were significantly correlated (r =0.441, P <0.05). CONCLUSION: The levels of PAPP-A and hs-CRP were higher in the LVH group than those in the non- LVH group.PAPP-A and LVMI are positively correlated, hs-CRP and LVMI are also positively correlated. PAPP-A and CRP may be involved in the formation of LVH in patients with EH.PAPP-A and CRP may be as predictors of the EH patients with LVH

Key words: essential hypertension, left ventricular hypertrophy, pregnancy-associated plasma protein-A, C-reactive protein