Arterial function parameters in patients with metabolic syndrome and severe hypertriglyceridemia

Abstract

Hypertriglyceridemia (hTG) is 1 of the dyslipidemia manifestations in patients with metabolic syndrome (MetS). However, for several decades, the role of hTG in cardiovascular risk was not well established. The aim of this study was to assess the parameters of the vascular structure and function in patients with MetS and different degree of hTG. Patients (aged 40-65years) with MetS were divided into 3 groups by triglyceride (TG) levels according to National Cholesterol Education Program Adult Treatment Panel III Guidelines: severe hTG (TG≥500mg/dL), moderate hTG (TG 200-499mg/dL), and a control (TG<150mg/dL) groups. Noninvasive assessment of vascular parameters (aortic augmentation index adjusted for heart rate 75 bpm [AixHR75], pulse wave velocity [PWV], flow-mediated dilatation, and common carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT)) were performed. Among the 1938 patients analyzed, 1041 had hTG. Moderate hTG was observed in 90.40% (n=941), whereas severe TG was observed in 9.6% (n=100) of patients. Overall TG concentration was 231.17±184.23mg/dL; in severe hTG group, TG concentration was 795.36±368.45mg/dL, in moderate hTG group 285.20±70.86mg/dL, and 112.48±24.80mg/dL in control group. AIxHR75 and IMT were the lowest in the severe hTG group (P<.001 for both). Mean arterial pressure, carotid-radial PWV (9.25±1.13 vs 9.24±1.28 vs 8.91±1.28; P<.001) as well as carotid-femoral PWV (8.63±1.65 vs 8.75±1.58 vs 8.51±1.6; P=.006) were the higher in hTG groups compared with control. There were no significant differences between groups in flow-mediated dilatation (3.39±2.01 vs 3.26±2.43 vs 3.45±2.61, P=.283). Patients with MetS and severe hTG have lower IMT and AIxHR75 and higher PWV and mean arterial pressure. Many factors could affect arterial parameters, and more research are needed to investigate arterial parameters and hTG connection.