The progression of carotid vascular remodeling risk factors in patients with arterial hypertension

Abstract

Objective. To determine the clinical and genetic risk factors for the development and progression of carotid vascular remodeling according to the prospective observation after five years in patients with essential arterial hypertension (AH). Material and methods. The repeat clinical and instrumental examination with assessment of concomitant cardiovascular risk factors (obesity, smoking, alcohol consumption, physical activity level, hyperglycemia, hypercholesterolemia, signs of depression) was performed in 78 patients with AH. The ultrasound examination of carotid arteries included evaluation of intima-media complex thickness (IMT) and the presence of atherosclerotic plaques. The polymorphism of the genes of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and polymorphism of restriction fragment lengths. Results. Progression of vascular remodeling was observed in 26 patients (33.3%) according to the results of carotid arteries examination after 5 years. Age (r=0.53; p=0.001), degree of AH (r=0.43; p=0.0001), level of office systolic blood pressure (r=0.295; p=0.0090), presence of the mutant C allele polymorphism A1166C of the angiotensin II type 1 receptor gene - AGTR1 (r=0.387; p=0.0001), blood glucose (r=0.30; p=0.010), waist circumference (r=0.258; p=0.023) were associated with an increase IMT common carotid artery (CCA) in patients with AH. The multiple linear regression analysis identified independent factors influencing on the IMT CCA - age (b=0.62; p=0.01), males (b=0.321; p=0.01) and the mutant C allele carrier polymorphism A1166C of AGTR1 gene (b=0.312; p=0.01). Conclusions. The progression of carotid vascular remodeling risk factors in patients with AH were age, male gender and polymorphism of A1166C gene AGTR1.