Abstract
BackgroundThe impact of serum uric acid (SUA) on arteries of hypertensive subjects remains to be fully established. This study investigated the relationship between SUA and carotid structural and hemodynamic parameters in hypertensive men and women.MethodsThree hundred and thirty eight patients (207 women and 131 men) were cross-sectionally evaluated by clinical, laboratory, hemodynamic and carotid ultrasound analysis. Common carotid diameters, circumferential wall tensions, Young’s Elastic Modulus, Stiffness Index, Arterial Compliance and intima-media thickness (IMT) were determined. Internal carotid artery resistive index (ICRI), a hemodynamic measure that reflects local vascular impedance and microangiopathy, was also assessed.ResultsUnivariate analysis showed no significant correlation of SUA with carotid diameters, elasticity/stiffness indexes, IMT and circumferential wall tensions in both genders. Conversely, SUA correlated with ICRI (r = 0.34; p < 0.001) in women, but not in men, and hyperuricemic women presented higher ICRI than normouricemic ones (0.684 ± 0.007 vs. 0.649 ± 0.004; p < 0.001). Stepwise and logistic regression analyses adjusted for potential confounding factors showed that ICRI was independently associated with SUA and hyperuricemia in women.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that SUA was associated with ICRI in hypertensive women, suggesting that there might gender-related differences in the relationship between SUA and vascular damage in subjects with systemic hypertension.
Highlights
The impact of serum uric acid (SUA) on arteries of hypertensive subjects remains to be fully established
Experimental data showed that uric acid stimulates proliferation, inflammation and oxidative stress in vascular smooth-muscle cells, induces endothelial dysfunction and activates the renin–angiotensin system [1,2]
SUA exhibited no significant correlation with common carotid artery diameters, Young’s Elastic Modulus, Artery Compliance and Stiffness Index, intima-media thickness (IMT) and circumferential wall tension measurements in both genders
Summary
The impact of serum uric acid (SUA) on arteries of hypertensive subjects remains to be fully established. Experimental data showed that uric acid stimulates proliferation, inflammation and oxidative stress in vascular smooth-muscle cells, induces endothelial dysfunction and activates the renin–angiotensin system [1,2]. These observations have supported the notion that SUA might be a marker and a subjects [10,11], indicating that SUA might be associated with microvascular damage and/or dysfunction in clinical settings. There has been no difference in the association between SUA and cardiovascular risk in men and women [1,2]. SUA was found to be independently associated with silent brain infarcts in women, but not in men [13]
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Sign-in/Register to access full text options 
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
