Correlation Between Arterial Stiffness and Plasma Endothelin-1 Concentration in Man with Obesity

Abstract

Background . Obesity is associated with increase arterial stiffness and elevated plasma endothelin-1 concentration. However, there is still conflicting data regarding the effect of obesity on arterial stiffness and plasma endothelin-1 concentration. Objective . The purpose of the current study was to assess this effect and analyze whether there was correlation between arterial stiffness indices and plasma endothelin-1 concentration. Methods . The design of the study was cross sectional study that compare and correlate arterial stiffness and plasma endothelin-1 concentration between obesity group (n=40) and normoweight group (n=40). Obesity was defined as body mass index = 25 kg/m2. Arterial stiffness was assessed by measuring carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) dan β stiffness index (β) non-invasively using ultrasound method. Endothelin-1 was measured by ELISA. Results . There was no significant difference regarding PWV between obesity and normoweight group (mean ± SD: 809.44 ± 137.77 versus 850.96 ± 211.60 cm/s, p=NS), but β was significantly higher in obese group (8.79 ± 3.15 versus 7.28 ± 1.96, p=0.012). PWV and β correlated significantly with age (PWV: r=0.446, p<0.001, β : r=0.354, p=0.001), but only β correlated with body mass index (r=0.282, p=0.011) and waist circumference (r=0.312, p=0.005). There was no significant difference between obesity and normoweight group regarding plasma endothelin-1 concentration (0.94 ± 0.26 versus 0.95 ± 0.18pg/dl, p=NS). There are no significant correlations between PWV/β andplasma endothelin-1 concentration. Conclusions . These findings suggest that the effect of obesity on arterialstiffness is not uniformly seen throughout all arterial region. Obesity impact on carotid artery is greater than its impact on aorta, and this impact on arterial stiffness is not mediated by endothelin-1.