PP.36.10] ENDOTHELIAL GLYCOCALYX DIMENSIONS ARE SIMILAR IN NORMOTENSIVES AND LOW RISK UNTREATED HYPERTENSIVE PATIENTS

Abstract

Objective: The integrity of endothelial glycocalyx (EG) plays a vital role in vascular permeability, inflammation and elasticity and finally to cardiovascular disease. Sideview Darkfield imaging allows for non-invasive automated estimation of EG dimensions based on the erythrocyte column distribution. Endothelial dysfunction is not uncommon in patients with arterial hypertension. We aimed to investigate any differences regarding EG dimensions between low risk untreated hypertensive patients and normotensive subjects. Design and method: We studied 126 patients with newly diagnosed and never treated essential hypertension (group A, mean age 48 + 10 years, 44 females). Twenty (20) normotensive subjects, matched for age, served as control group (group B, mean age 51 + 9 years, 17 females). Arterial hypertension was confirmed by 24 h ABPM. Increased perfusion boundary region (PBR) of the sublingual arterial microvessels (ranged from 5–25 micrometers) using Sideview Darkfield imaging (Microscan, Glycocheck) was measured as a non-invasive accurate index of reduced EG thickness. Results: 24 h mean ABPM was significantly increased in group A (137/85 vs. 119/74 mmHg, p < 0.001) while no significant differences were found regarding age and BMI. EG dimensions were similar within groups. Indeed, we found that in groups A and B: a. PBR 5–25 was 2.06 μm vs. 2.06 μm, p = 0.98, b. PBR 5–9 was 1.16 μm vs. 1.23 μm, p = 0.07, c. PBR 10–19 was 2.19 μm vs. 2.19 μm, p = 0.98 and d. PBR 20–25 was 2.56 μm vs. 2.40 μm, p = 0.16. No correlations were found between PBR and age, sex and blood pressure levels in both groups. Conclusions: It seems that EG does not represent a valuable tool regarding cardiovascular risk estimation in low risk hypertensive patients. Future studies in both high risk hypertensives and in patients under antihypertensive treatment are needed in order to evaluate the possible role of EG in essential hypertension.