Independent effects of blood pressure and parathyroid hormone on aortic pulse wave velocity in untreated Chinese patients

Serum Galectin-3 and Mucin-1 (CA15-3) in Relation to Renal Function in Untreated Chinese Patients

BACKGROUND

Galectin-3 is a multi-functional lectin protein and a ligand of mucin-1 (CA15-3), and has been linked to renal fibrosis in animal models and renal function in humans. However, no population study has ever explored the associations with both ligand and receptor. We therefore investigate the independent association of renal function with serum galectin-3 and mucin-1 (CA15-3) in untreated Chinese patients.

METHODS

The study participants were outpatients who were suspected of hypertension, but had not been treated with antihypertensive medication. Serum galectin-3 and mucin-1 (CA15-3) concentrations were both measured by the enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method. Estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was calculated from serum creatinine by the use of the Chronic Kidney Disease Epidemiology Collaboration (CKD-EPI) equation.

RESULTS

The 1,789 participants included 848 (47.4%) men. Mean (±SD) age was 51.3 ± 10.7 years. Multiple regression analyses showed that eGFR was significantly associated with serum galectin-3 and mucin-1 (CA15-3) concentration (0.68 and 1.32 ml/min/1.73 m2 decrease per 1-SD increase in log transformed serum galectin-3 and mucin-1 (CA15-3) concentration, respectively; P ≤ 0.006). The association of eGFR with serum mucin-1 (CA15-3) concentration was significantly stronger in the overweight (BMI 24.0-27.9 kg/m2) and obese (BMI ≥ 28.0 kg/m2) than in normal weight subjects (BMI < 24.0 kg/m2, P for interaction 0.018). Path analysis showed that serum galectin-3 concentration had both a direct (P = 0.016) and a mucin-1 mediated indirect effect (P = 0.014) on eGFR.

CONCLUSIONS

Both circulating galectin-3 and mucin-1 (CA15-3) were significantly associated with renal function. The role of galectin-3 on renal function might be partially via mucin-1.

Arterial Stiffness in Thyroid and Parathyroid Disease: A Review of Clinical Studies

Growing evidence shows that arterial stiffness measurement provides important prognostic information and improves clinical stratification of cardiovascular risk. Thyroid and parathyroid diseases are endocrine diseases with a relevant cardiovascular burden. The objective of this review was to consider the relationship between arterial stiffness and thyroid and parathyroid diseases in human clinical studies. We performed a systematic literature review of articles published in PubMed/MEDLINE from inception to December 2021, restricted to English languages and to human adults. We selected relevant articles about the relationship between arterial stiffness and thyroid and parathyroid diseases. For each selected article, data on arterial stiffness were extracted and factors that may have an impact on arterial stiffness were identified. We considered 24 papers concerning hypothyroidism, 9 hyperthyroidism and 16 primary hyperparathyroidism and hypoparathyroidism. Most studies evidenced an increase in arterial stiffness biomarkers in hypothyroidism, hyperthyroidism and primary hyperparathyroidism, even in subclinical and mild forms, although heterogeneity of measurement methods and of study designs prevented a definitive conclusion, suggesting that the assessment of arterial stiffness may be considered in the clinical evaluation of cardiovascular risk in these diseases.

A Retrospective Cohort Study of the Association between Serum Osteopontin Levels and Aortic Stiffness in Hypertensive Patients

By suppressing mineralization and preventing ectopic calcium deposits, osteopontin (OPN) has an inhibitory effect on vascular calcification. Also, there is an association between OPN and aortic stiffness (AS). We aimed to investigate the association between serum OPN levels and AS measured by carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) in hypertensive patients. Baseline characteristics and fasting blood sampling of 120 participants with hypertension and 120 participants without hypertension were acquired. Serum OPN concentrations were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In total, 43 (35.9%) participants were assigned to the AS group with cfPWV of >10 m/s in hypertensive patients. There were more patients with diabetes mellitus, old age, high systolic blood pressure, high serum intact parathyroid hormone (iPTH), elevated C-reactive protein, and high OPN levels in the AS group compared with the control group in hypertensive participants. A multivariate logistic regression analysis discloses that age, SBP, serum OPN, and iPTH levels were independently associated with AS in hypertensive patients. Moreover, according to a multivariate forward stepwise linear regression analysis, OPN level is positively associated with cfPWV. In conclusion, serum OPN level is assumed to be a potential biomarker to predict AS and is positively associated with cfPWV in patients with hypertension.

Clinic and ambulatory blood pressure in relation to the interaction between plasma advanced glycation end products and sodium dietary intake and renal handling

Advanced glycation end product (AGE) clearance may cause renal tubular injuries, such as changes in sodium reabsorption. We hypothesize that AGEs interact with sodium metabolism to influence blood pressure (BP). The study participants were outpatients who were suspected of having hypertension but had not been treated with antihypertensive medication. Clinic and ambulatory blood pressures were measured at baseline (n = 989) and during follow-up (median, 4.4 years, n = 293). Plasma AGE concentrations were measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Twenty-four-hour urine was collected for measurements of creatinine, sodium and lithium. In a cross-sectional analysis (n = 989), subjects in the top quintile versus quintiles 1-4 of plasma AGE concentration had significantly (P ≤ 0.004) lower fractional excretion of lithium (18.3% vs. 21.6%) and fractional distal reabsorption rate of sodium (95.0% vs. 95.8%) but similar BP (P ≥ 0.25). However, there was an interaction between plasma AGE concentration and urinary sodium excretion in relation to diastolic BP (P ≤ 0.058). Only in participants with low urinary sodium chloride excretion (≤6 grams/day, n = 189), clinic (84.3 vs. 80.2 mmHg), 24-h (83.9 vs. 80.4 mmHg), daytime (87.8 vs. 84.8 mmHg) and nighttime (75.1 vs. 72.1 mmHg) diastolic BP at baseline were higher (P ≤ 0.05) in the top quintile than in quintiles 1-4 of plasma AGE concentration. In the longitudinal study (n = 383), similar trends were observed, with significant (P ≤ 0.05) differences in the increment in daytime diastolic BP (6.8 vs. -1.7 mmHg) and incidence of ambulatory and treated hypertension (hazard ratio 3.73) during follow-up. In conclusion, AGEs were associated with high BP, probably via enhanced proximal sodium handling and on low dietary sodium intake.

Aortic Stiffness: Epidemiology, Risk Factors, and Relevant Biomarkers

Aortic stiffness (AoS) is a maladaptive response to hemodynamic stress and both modifiable and non-modifiable risk factors, and elevated AoS increases afterload for the heart. AoS is a non-invasive marker of cardiovascular health and metabolic dysfunction. Implementing AoS as a diagnostic tool is challenging as it increases with age and varies amongst races. AoS is associated with lifestyle factors such as alcohol and smoking, as well as hypertension and comorbid conditions including metabolic syndrome and its components. Multiple studies have investigated various biomarkers associated with increased AoS, and this area is of particular interest given that these markers can highlight pathophysiologic pathways and specific therapeutic targets in the future. These biomarkers include those involved in the inflammatory cascade, anti-aging genes, and the renin-angiotensin aldosterone system. In the future, targeting AoS rather than blood pressure itself may be the key to improving vascular health and outcomes. In this review, we will discuss the current understanding of AoS, measurement of AoS and the challenges in interpretation, associated biomarkers, and possible therapeutic avenues for modulation of AoS.

Meta-analysis on the Effect of Mild Primary Hyperparathyroidism and Parathyroidectomy Upon Arterial Stiffness

CONTEXT

Current data about the cardiovascular manifestations of mild primary hyperparathyroidism (pHPT) are often conflicting. Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is the gold standard for assessing aortic stiffness, and it predicts cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.

OBJECTIVE

Primary outcomes were to investigate if mild pHPT was associated with higher PWV and if parathyroidectomy (PTX) reduced PWV in mild pHPT. Secondary outcome was to investigate blood pressure changes after PTX.

METHODS

Sources were PubMed, Google Scholar, SCOPUS, Web of Science, and the Cochrane Library. Eligible studies included reports of PWV in patients with mild pHPT and controls, or in patients with mild pHPT before and after PTX. Two investigators independently identified eligible studies and extracted data. Pooled mean difference (MD) was the summary effect measure. Data were presented in forest plots with outlier and influential case diagnostics. Nine observational studies and one randomized clinical trial were selected, including 433 patients with mild pHPT, 171 of whom underwent PTX, and 407 controls. PWV was significantly higher in mild pHPT than in controls (MD = 1.18, 0.67 to 1.68, P < .0001). Seven studies evaluated the effect of PTX on PWV. PTX significantly reduced PWV (MD = -0.48, -0.88 to -0.07, P = .022).

CONCLUSION

Aortic stiffness is increased in patients with mild pHPT, supporting the notion that mild pHPT is also associated with adverse cardiovascular manifestations. PTX significantly reduced arterial stiffness in mild pHPT, indicating that the benefit of PTX over cardiovascular manifestations should not be dismissed but it deserves further studies.

Parathyroid hormone may play a role in the pathophysiology of primary hypertension

Parathyroid hormone has been related with the risk of hypertension, but the matter remains controversial. We examined the association of parathyroid hormone with central blood pressure and its determinants in 622 normotensive or never-treated hypertensive subjects aged 19-72 years without diabetes, cardiovascular or renal disease, or cardiovascular medications. The methods were whole-body impedance cardiography and analyses of pulse wave and heart rate variability. Cardiovascular function was examined in sex-specific tertiles of plasma parathyroid hormone (mean concentrations 3.0, 4.3 and 6.5 pmol/L, respectively) during head-up tilt. Explanatory factors for haemodynamics were further investigated using linear regression analyses. Mean age was 45.0 (s.d. 11.7) years, BMI 26.8 (4.4) kg/m2, seated office blood pressure 141/90 (21/12) mmHg, and 309 subjects (49.7%) were male. Only five participants had elevated plasma parathyroid hormone and calcium concentrations. Highest tertile of parathyroid hormone presented with higher supine and upright aortic diastolic blood pressure (P < 0.01) and augmentation index (P < 0.01), and higher upright systemic vascular resistance (P < 0.05) than the lowest tertile. The tertiles did not present with differences in pulse wave velocity, cardiac output, or measures of heart rate variability. In linear regression analyses, parathyroid hormone was an independent explanatory factor for aortic systolic (P = 0.005) and diastolic (P = 0.002) blood pressure, augmentation index (P = 0.002), and systemic vascular resistance (P = 0.031). To conclude, parathyroid hormone was directly related to central blood pressure, wave reflection, and systemic vascular resistance in subjects without cardiovascular comorbidities and medications. Thus, parathyroid hormone may play a role in the pathophysiology of primary hypertension.

Serum indoxyl sulfate as a potential biomarker of aortic arterial stiffness in coronary artery disease

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

Indoxyl sulfate (IS), a dietary tryptophan metabolite, acts as a cardiotoxin and uremic toxin. High IS levels are associated with chronic kidney disease and cardiovascular diseases. This study investigated the association between serum IS levels and aortic arterial stiffness (AAS) in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) was measured by the SphygmoCor system and patients with values of >10 m/s were classified in the AAS group. The baseline characteristics were recorded and measured (including biochemical and clinical data). Serum IS levels were determined using liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry. AAS occurred in 50 (34.7%) of 144 patients with CAD. They were older, had higher IS levels and percentages of diabetes, systolic blood pressure, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine but lower estimated glomerular filtration rates. The IS level and older age significantly correlated with AAS [odds ratio (OR) = 3.834, p = 0.031; OR = 1.095, p = 0.002, respectively]. Furthermore, the serum IS level (β = 0.167, adjusted R² change: 0.026, p = 0.027) had a significant positive correlation with cfPWV.

CONCLUSIONS

Taken together, higher serum IS levels are potential independent biomarkers for AAS in patients with CAD. Therefore, early checking of serum IS levels may help prevent CAD progression and have clinical implications in the near future.

Blood pressure and heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity in white-coat, masked, and sustained hypertension

We investigated blood pressure (BP) and heart rate variability and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS) in white-coat, masked and sustained hypertension in untreated patients (n = 645). Normotension and white-coat, masked, and sustained hypertension were defined according to the clinic (cutoff 140/90 mmHg) and 24-h ambulatory (130/80 mmHg) BPs. The Finometer device recorded beat-to-beat finger BP and electrocardiograms in the supine and standing positions for the computation of frequency-domain power-spectral BP and heart rate variability indexes and BRS. In multivariate analysis, BP variability indexes in the supine position differed significantly (P < 0.0001) for both low-frequency (LF) and high-frequency (HF) components and the LF/HF ratio, with the lowest LF and HF power and highest LF/HF ratio in white-coat hypertension (n = 28), the highest LF and HF power and lowest LF/HF ratio in sustained hypertension (n = 198), and intermediate values in normotension (n = 189) and masked hypertension (n = 230). These differences diminished in the standing position, being significant (P < 0.0001) only for the LF component variability. The LF/HF ratio in BP in the supine position decreased with advancing age in normotension and sustained hypertension (P ≤ 0.03) but not white-coat or masked hypertension (P ≥ 0.12). For heart rate variability, a significant difference was observed only for the LF component in the supine position (P = 0.0005), which was lowest in white-coat hypertension. BRS in masked and sustained hypertension was significantly (P ≤ 0.0001) lower than that in normotension in both supine and standing positions and decreased with advancing age (P ≤ 0.0001). In conclusion, masked, but not white-coat, hypertension showed similar patterns of, but slightly less severe, changes in BP and heart rate variability and BRS to sustained hypertension.

Serum levels of sclerostin as a potential biomarker in central arterial stiffness among hypertensive patients

BACKGROUND

Sclerostin is known to be a canonical Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway inhibitor, while the Wnt/β-catenin signaling pathway is proposed to be involved in the development of arterial stiffness. This study aims to investigate the relationship between serum sclerostin levels and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) among hypertensive patients.

METHODS

Fasting blood samples were obtained from 105 hypertensive patients. Patients with cfPWV values of > 10 m/s were classified in the high arterial stiffness group, whereas those with cfPWV values of ≤10 m/s were assigned to the low arterial stiffness group. Serum sclerostin and Dickkopf-1 (DKK1) levels were quantified using commercially available enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays.

RESULTS

Thirty-six hypertensive patients (34.3%) who belonged to the high arterial stiffness group were generally older (p < 0.001), presented with lower estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFR, p = 0.014), higher incidence of diabetes mellitus (p = 0.030), average systolic blood pressures (SBP, p = 0.013), pulse pressure (p = 0.026), serum creatinine levels (p = 0.013), intact parathyroid hormone levels (iPTH, p = 0.003), and sclerostin levels (p < 0.001) than their counterparts in the low arterial stiffness group. A multivariable logistic regression analysis identified sclerostin as an independent predictor of arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients (odds ratio, 1.042; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.017-1.068; p = 0.001). Multivariable forward stepwise linear regression analysis also showed that serum sclerostin level (β = 0.255, adjusted R2 change: 0.146, p = 0.003) was positively associated with cfPWV values in patients with hypertension.

CONCLUSIONS

In this study, serum sclerostin level, but not DKK1, is found to be positively correlated with cfPWV values and is identified as an independent predictor of arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients after adjusting for significant confounders.

Association of pulse wave velocity with single nucleotide polymorphisms related to parathyroid hormone

OBJECTIVE

Carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cfPWV) was associated with serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) in untreated Chinese. We investigated in the same cohort whether cfPWV, brachial-ankle (baPWV) and heart-brachial (hbPWV) pulse wave velocity (PWV) were associated with rs6127099 (CYP24A1) and rs4074995 (RGS14). A previously published genome-wide association study demonstrated that each additional copy of the T (rs6127099) or G (rs4074995) allele was associated with a 7% or 3% higher serum PTH, respectively.

METHODS

In 1601 untreated Chinese patients (mean age, 51.0 years; 51.9% women), we measured cfPWV by tonometry (SphygmoCor) and baPWV and hbPWV by combined oscillometry and plethysmography (VP-2000 PWV/ABI analyser), serum PTH by an immunoassay, and genotypes by the SNapShot method.

RESULTS

cfPWV, baPWV and hbPWV averaged 7.9, 14.6 and 5.5 m/s and serum PTH 65.7 pg/mL. Genotype frequencies were in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium, amounting to 41.7% (AA), 44.9% (AT) and 13.4% (TT) for rs6127099 and to 70.7% (GG), 26.9% (GA) and 2.3% (AA) for rs4074995. With adjustments applied for sex, age, body mass index, heart rate and season, hbPWV was 0.05 m/s (p = .042) lower with each additional copy of the minor allele (T) of rs6127099. In similarly adjusted analyses of 157 normotensive participants younger than 50 years, cfPWV was 0.32 m/s (p = .004) higher per additional copy of the T allele. Sensitivity analyses additionally accounting for the total-to-HDL serum cholesterol ratio, plasma glucose, glomerular filtration rate and 24 h systolic blood pressure were consistent. No other association of PWV with the genetic variants reached significance.

CONCLUSIONS

With an increasing number of rs6127099 T alleles, arterial stiffness, as exemplified by PWV, was lower in all participants in a muscular artery (hbPWV), but higher in young normotensive participants in an elastic artery (cfPWV).