Abstract
BackgroundThe present study was designed to evaluate the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and arterial stiffness according to sex in patients with arterial hypertension.MethodsA case-series study was carried out in 258 hypertensive patients without antecedents of cardiovascular disease or diabetes mellitus. Nephelometry was used to determine hs-CRP. Office or clinical and home blood pressures were measured with a validated OMRON model M10 sphygmomanometer. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was performed with the SpaceLabs 90207 system. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) and central and peripheral augmentation index (AIx) were measured with the SphygmoCor system, and a Sonosite Micromax ultrasound unit was used for automatic measurements of carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). Ambulatory arterial stiffness index and home arterial stiffness index were calculated as “1-slope” from the within-person regression analysis of diastolic-on-systolic ambulatory blood pressure.ResultsCentral and peripheral AIx were greater in women than in men: 35.31 ± 9.95 vs 26.59 ± 11.45 and 102.06 ± 20.47 vs 85.97 ± 19.13, respectively. IMT was greater in men (0.73 ± 0.13 vs 0.69 ± 0.10). hs-CRP was positively correlated to IMT (r = 0.261), maximum (r = 0.290) and to peripheral AIx (r = 0.166) in men, and to PWV in both men (r = 0.280) and women (r = 0.250). In women, hs-CRP was negatively correlated to central AIx (r = −0.222). For each unit increase in hs-CRP, carotid IMT would increase 0.05 mm in men, and PWV would increase 0.07 m/sec in men and 0.08 m/sec in women, while central AIx would decrease 2.5 units in women. In the multiple linear regression analysis, hs-CRP explained 10.2% and 6.7% of PWV variability in women and men, respectively, 8.4% of carotid IMT variability in men, and 4.9% of central AIx variability in women.ConclusionsAfter adjusting for age, other cardiovascular risk factors and the use of antihypertensive and lipid-lowering drugs, hs-CRP was seen to be positively correlated to carotid IMT in men, and negatively correlated to central AIx in women. The association of hs-CRP to arterial stiffness parameters differs between men and women.
Highlights
The present study was designed to evaluate the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein and arterial stiffness according to sex in patients with arterial hypertension
Ambulatory systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), cardiovascular risk estimated from the Framingham equation, mean and minimum intima-media thickness (IMT), and peripheral augmentation index (AIx) (PAIx) were positively correlated to high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in men
For each unit increase in hs-CRP, carotid IMT would increase
Summary
The present study was designed to evaluate the relationship between high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and arterial stiffness according to sex in patients with arterial hypertension. The association of high-sensitivity CRP (hs-CRP) to cardiovascular morbidity-mortality has not been sufficiently clarified. Kaptoge et al [5], in a metaanalysis of 160,309 patients without antecedents of cardiovascular disease, concluded that hs-CRP concentration shows a continuous association to the risk of coronary disease, cerebral thrombosis and cardiovascular mortality. This association is conditioned by the conventional cardiovascular risk factors. Its role in the pathogenesis of arteriosclerosis has not been demonstrated [1,6,7,8]
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Disclaimer: 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.