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Relationship between inflammation and microalbuminuria in prehypertension

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 27, pages 119–125 (2013)Cite this article

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Abstract

Inflammation is a pathogenic factor for target-organ damage (TOD) in hypertension. This study examined the relationship between inflammatory parameters and urinary albumin excretion (UAE) in prehypertension. A total of 65 prehypertensive subjects (blood pressure (BP) 120–139/80–89 mm Hg) and 26 healthy volunteers with BP <120/80 mm Hg were included. High-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), and serum and urinary tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) were measured as inflammatory markers. Prehypertensive individuals had higher levels of inflammatory parameters and UAE than healthy subjects. Analyses carried out in prehypertensive participants showed that BP was similar between individuals with normoalbuminuria or microalbuminuria (MAB) (UAE between 30 and 299 mg per day). However, serum hs-CRP and urinary TNF-α excretion were higher in prehypertensives with MAB. Multiple regression analysis showed that systolic blood pressure (r=0.29, P<0.01), hs-CRP (r=0.20, P<0.001), and urinary TNF-α (r=0.69, P<0.001) were independently correlated with UAE (adjusted R2=0.73, P<0.001). Finally, logistic regression analysis performed in the prehypertensive group with the absence or presence of MAB as the dependent variable demonstrated that hs-CRP (3.92 (1.45–10.58), P=0.007) and urinary TNF-α (1.69 (1.20–2.37), P=0.002) were independent risk factors for the presence of MAB. Inflammatory parameters are significantly and independently associated with UAE in prehypertensive subjects, suggesting that inflammation may be a pathogenic factor for the early vascular or TOD in these individuals.

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Acknowledgements

This study was partially supported by Fundación Canaria de Investigación y Salud (FUNCIS), Sociedad Española de Nefrología (SEN) y Asociación Científica para la Investigación Nefrológica (ACINEF).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Nephrology Service, University Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

    J F Navarro-González & J García

  2. Research Unit, University Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

    J F Navarro-González, C Mora, J Donate & V Cazaña

  3. Clinical Biochemistry Service, University Hospital Nuestra Señora de Candelaria, Santa Cruz de Tenerife, Spain

    M Muros

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  1. J F Navarro-González
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Correspondence to J F Navarro-González.

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Navarro-González, J., Mora, C., Muros, M. et al. Relationship between inflammation and microalbuminuria in prehypertension. J Hum Hypertens 27, 119–125 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2011.118

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