Circulating calcification inhibitors are associated with arterial damage in pediatric patients with primary hypertension

The impact of fetuin-A on predicting aortic arch calcification: secondary analysis of a community-based survey

Introduction

Atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease is associated with a high mortality rate due to vascular calcification. The role of fetuin-A in aortic arch calcification (AAC) is less well understood.

Methods

An analysis of secondary biomarkers was performed on 800 individuals from the biobank using the community database. AAC was defined by radiologists based on imaging. Multiple variables logical analysis was used for risk analysis.

Results

A total of 736 individual samples were collected based on age and gender. The average age is 65 ± 10 years, and half the population comprises men. In spite of similar body weight, renal function, and hepatic function, the AAC group had higher blood pressure and fetuin-A levels independently: systolic blood pressure (SBP) index ≥130 mmHg [adjusted odds ratio (aOR) 1.85, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.34-2.57, p = 0.002] and fetuin-A (aOR 0.62, 95% CI 0.50-0.76, p < 0.001). Moreover, it is evident that AAC can be predicted more accurately when combined with SBP ≥130 mmHg and a low fetuin-A level (<358 μg/ml: aOR 5.39, 95% CI 3.21-9.08) compared with the reference.

Conclusion

Low fetuin-A levels are significantly correlated with AAC while there is an increased association between vascular calcification and coexisting hypertension.

Osteoprotegerin Is Essential for the Development of Endothelial Dysfunction Induced by Angiotensin II in Mice

Opinions on the effects of osteoprotegerin (OPG) have evolved over the years from a protein protecting the vasculature from calcification to a cardiovascular risk factor contributing to inflammation within the vascular wall. Nowadays, the link between OPG and angiotensin II (Ang II) appears to be particularly important. In this study, the endothelial function was investigated in OPG-knockout mice (B6.129.S4-OPG, OPG-) and wild-type (C57BL/6J, OPG+) mice under basic conditions and after Ang II exposure by assessing the endothelium-dependent diastolic response of aortic rings to acetylcholine in vitro. A further aim of the study was to compare the effect of Ang II on the expression of cytokines in the aortic wall of both groups of mice. Our study shows that rings from OPG- mice had their normal endothelial function preserved after incubation with Ang II, whereas those from OPG+ mice showed significant endothelial dysfunction. We conclude that the absence of OPG, although associated with a pro-inflammatory cytokine profile in the vascular wall, simultaneously protects against Ang II-induced increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines in the murine vascular wall. Our study also demonstrates that the absence of OPG can result in a decrease in the concentration of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the vascular wall after Ang II exposure. The presence of OPG is therefore crucial for the development of Ang II-induced inflammation in the vascular wall and for the development of Ang II-induced endothelial dysfunction.

Circadian Blood Pressure Profile in Pediatric Patients with Primary Hypertension

Our study aimed to evaluate factors affecting circadian BP profile and its association with hypertension-mediated organ damage (HMOD) in pediatric patients with primary hypertension (PH). The study included 112 children (14.7 ± 2.1 age, 79 boys, 33 girls) with untreated PH. Non-dipping was defined as a nocturnal drop in systolic or diastolic BP (SBP, DBP) < 10%, and a nocturnal drop >20% was defined as extreme dipping. The nocturnal SBP drop was 10.9 ± 5.9 (%), and the DBP drop was 16.2 ± 8.5 (%). Non-dipping was found in 50 (44.6%) children and extreme dipping in 29 (25.9%) patients. The nocturnal SBP decrease correlated with BMI Z-score (r = −0.242, p = 0.010) and left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (r = −0.395, p = 0.006); diastolic DBP decrease correlated with augmentation index (AIx75HR) (r = 0.367, p = 0.003). Patients with a disturbed blood pressure profile had the highest LVMI (p = 0.049), while extreme dippers had the highest augmentation index (AIx75HR) (p = 0.027). Elevated systolic and diastolic BP dipping were risk factors for positive AIx75HR (OR 1.122 95CI (1.009−1.249) and OR 1.095 95CI (1.017−1.177). We concluded that disturbed circadian BP profile was common in children with PH and should not be considered a marker of secondary hypertension. A disturbed circadian BP profile may be associated with higher body weight. In pediatric patients with PH, non-dipping is associated with increased left ventricular mass, and extreme dipping may be a risk factor for increased arterial stiffness.

Serum Sclerostin Is Associated with Peripheral and Central Systolic Blood Pressure in Pediatric Patients with Primary Hypertension

Recent studies showed the significance of the canonical Wnt/beta-catenin pathway and its inhibitor—sclerostin, in the formation of arterial damage, cardiovascular morbidity, and mortality. The study aimed to assess serum sclerostin concentration and its relationship with blood pressure, arterial damage, and calcium-phosphate metabolism in children and adolescents with primary hypertension (PH). Serum sclerostin concentration (pmol/L) was evaluated in 60 pediatric patients with PH and 20 healthy children. In the study group, we also assessed calcium-phosphate metabolism, office peripheral and central blood pressure, 24 h ambulatory blood pressure, and parameters of arterial damage. Serum sclerostin did not differ significantly between patients with PH and the control group (36.6 ± 10.6 vs. 41.0 ± 11.9 (pmol/L), p = 0.119). In the whole study group, sclerostin concentration correlated positively with height Z-score, phosphate, and alkaline phosphatase, and negatively with age, peripheral systolic and mean blood pressure, and central systolic and mean blood pressure. In multivariate analysis, systolic blood pressure (SBP) and height expressed as Z-scores were the significant determinants of serum sclerostin in the studied children: height Z-score (β = 0.224, (95%CI, 0.017–0.430)), SBP Z-score (β = −0.216, (95%CI, −0.417 to −0.016)). In conclusion, our results suggest a significant association between sclerostin and blood pressure in the pediatric population.