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Endothelial dysfunction is associated with increased levels of biomarkers in essential hypertension

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 24, pages 373–379 (2010)Cite this article

Abstract

To assess the correlation between endothelial dysfunction and the serum levels of biomarkers of inflammation, remodelling and oxidative stress in essential hypertension, 78 treatment-naïve essential hypertensives (mean age 43 years) underwent measurement of endothelial dysfunction, using the maximal acetylcholine-induced forearm vasodilation and serum levels of adhesion molecules, selectins, chemokines, metalloproteinases, copper, zinc, selenium, vitamins, homocysteine, malondialdehyde, erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase and erythrocyte superoxide dismutase. Mean (±s.e.m.) maximal acetylcholine-induced vasodilation was 367±20%. Patients with a more impaired acetylcholine-dependent vasodilation (first tertile) had increased levels of e-selectin (P=0.009), p-selectin (P<0.001), monocyte chemotactic protein type 1 (MCP-1; P=0.012) and the tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinases type 1 (TIMP-1; P=0.044), which in turn showed significant inverse correlations with maximal endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Serum levels of selenium (P=0.012), vitamin C (P=0.038), erythrocyte glutathione peroxidase (P<0.001) and superoxide dismutase (P=0.022) activities were reduced in patients with a more impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation. Recently diagnosed treatment-naïve essential hypertensives showed a relationship between the endothelial dysfunction, serum markers of inflammation and remodelling and levels of antioxidant substances. These could be potentially helpful markers of high risk in hypertensive patients.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Marta Pulido, for editing this paper and for editorial assistance. This study was supported in part by the Spanish Ministry of Health through an official grant from the ‘Fondo de Investigación Sanitaria’ (FIS00/0435), Madrid, Spain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Hospital Mutua Terrassa, University of Barcelona, Terrassa, Spain

    A de la Sierra

  2. Department of Infectious Diseases, Hospital Clínic, University of Barcelona, Terrassa, Spain

    M Larrousse

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  1. A de la Sierra
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Correspondence to A de la Sierra.

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de la Sierra, A., Larrousse, M. Endothelial dysfunction is associated with increased levels of biomarkers in essential hypertension. J Hum Hypertens 24, 373–379 (2010). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2009.91

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