Clinical Significance of the Augmentation Index in Patients with Preserved Kidney Function

Clinical Significance of Arterial Velocity Pulse Index in Patients With Stage B Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction

Background

In clinical settings, the arterial velocity pulse index (AVI) is explored as a novel marker of atherosclerosis using pulse wave analysis; however, data regarding the correlations between AVI and heart failure (HF) are limited. This study aimed to elucidate the clinical significance of AVI in patients with stage B HF with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF).

Methods

In this cross-sectional study, 345 patients with stage B HFpEF (no symptoms despite evidence of cardiac structural or functional impairment, and left ventricular ejection fraction which is estimated by echocardiography ≥ 50%) were enrolled. Patients with a history of HF hospitalization were excluded. The AVI was measured using a commercial device, and associations between AVI and various clinical parameters were examined.

Results

Significant correlations between AVI and various clinical parameters, such as E/e' as a maker of left ventricular diastolic function (r = 0.35; P < 0.001), high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T levels as a marker of myocardial injury (r = 0.47; P < 0.001), reactive oxygen metabolite levels as an oxidative stress marker (r = 0.31; P < 0.001), urinary albumin concentration as a marker of kidney function (r = 0.34; P < 0.001) and calf circumference as a marker of muscle mass volume (r = -0.42; P < 0.001) were observed. Furthermore, multiple regression analyses revealed that these clinical parameters were selected as independent variables when AVI was used as a subordinate factor.

Conclusions

This study shows that AVI might be a determining factor for prognosis in patients with stage B HFpEF. Nevertheless, further comprehensive prospective studies, including intervention therapies, are warranted to validate the findings of this study.

Clinical Impact of Blood Testosterone Concentration on Cardio-Ankle Vascular Index in Female Patients With Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Background

Information regarding testosterone as a significant risk factor of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in female patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) is limited. However, some clinical studies reported the importance of cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) as a novel physiological marker of arterial function in type 2 DM. This cross-sectional study aimed to elucidate the clinical effects of blood testosterone concentration on CAVI in female patients with type 2 DM.

Methods

A total of 238 postmenopausal patients including 97 with a history of CVD with type 2 DM (age (mean ± standard deviation (SD)), 73 ± 9 years) were enrolled. CAVI was measured according to the standard technique, and serum total testosterone concentration (T-T) was also measured as a testosterone level marker in vivo. The relationship between CAVI and T-T was evaluated.

Results

CAVI is significantly higher (CVD vs. non-CVD: 10.2 ± 1.2 vs. 9.2 ± 1.0, P < 0.001), and log-T-T significantly lower (CVD vs. non-CVD: 1.2 ± 0.2 ng/dL vs. 1.5 ± 0.2 ng/dL, P < 0.001) in patients with CVD than those without CVD. CAVI was significantly negatively correlated with log-T-T (r = -0.41; P < 0.001). Furthermore, multiple regression analysis indicated that CVD (β = 0.23; P < 0.001) and log-T-T (β = -0.18; P < 0.01) were selected as independent subordinate variables for CAVI.

Conclusions

This study showed that T-T was independently inversely associated with CAVI, indicating that low testosterone concentration is a considerable risk factor for the progression of arterial dysfunction in female patients with type 2 DM.

Relationship Between Serum Total Testosterone Concentration and Augmentation Index at Radial Artery in Japanese Postmenopausal Patients

Background

The significance of testosterone as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in females is controversial. This cross-sectional study aimed to elucidate the relationship between serum total testosterone concentration (T-T) and augmentation index at the radial artery (r-AIx) as a marker of arterial function in Japanese postmenopausal patients.

Methods

A total of 447 postmenopausal patients with traditional cardiovascular risk factors and/or a history of CVD (age (mean ± standard deviation (SD)), 73 ± 10 years) were enrolled. r-AIx was measured using tonometry, and the association between r-AIx and various clinical parameters, including T-T, was determined.

Results

r-AIx significantly increased (CVD vs. non-CVD: 99±11% vs. 91±11%, P < 0.001) and T-T significantly decreased (CVD vs. non-CVD: 0.31 ± 0.13 ng/mL vs. 0.49 ± 0.23 ng/mL, P < 0.001) in patients with CVD than in those without CVD. A significant negative correlation (r = -0.48; P < 0.001) between r-AIx and T-T was observed. Furthermore, multiple regression analysis indicated that T-T (t value = -7.7; P < 0.001), height (t value = -5.3; P < 0.001), d-ROMs test as a marker of oxidative stress in vivo (t value = 3.2; P < 0.001), CVD (t value = 2.9; P < 0.01), and pulse rate (t value = -2.7; P < 0.01) were independent variables for r-AIx as a subordinate factor.

Conclusion

This study revealed that low T-T is an important determining factor for an increase in r-AIx in Japanese postmenopausal patients. A prospective multicenter study with a large sample size is required to confirm the results of this study.

Arterial Velocity Pulse Index as a Novel Marker of Atherosclerosis Using Pulse Wave Analysis on High Sensitivity Troponin T in Hypertensive Patients

Background

The arterial velocity pulse index (AVI) is explored as a novel marker of atherosclerosis using pulse wave analysis in clinical settings. Recent clinical studies have reported that the level of high-sensitivity troponin T (hs-cTnT) is an important biomarker in hypertensive patients. The aim of this study was to clarify the impact of AVI on hs-cTnT in these patients.

Methods

This study enrolled 455 hypertensive outpatients (181 males and 274 females; mean age, 65 ± 11 years (mean ± standard deviation)) without a history of cardiovascular events. AVI and hs-cTnT levels were measured using a commercial device, and relations among various clinical parameters, including AVI and hs-cTnT, were examined.

Results

Hs-cTnT was detected in 405 patients (89.0%). AVI was significantly higher in patients with detectable hs-cTnT than in those without (28 ± 7 vs. 24 ± 8, respectively, P < 0.001). In patients with detectable hs-cTnT, there was a significant positive correlation between AVI and hs-cTnT (r = 0.42, P < 0.001). Furthermore, multiple regression analyses revealed that AVI was an independent variable when hs-cTnT was used as a subordinate factor. On the other hand, hs-cTnT age, Cornell electrocardiographic voltage, height, urinary albumin excretion, pulse rate, and derivatives of reactive oxygen metabolites test were independent variables when AVI was used as a subordinate factor.

Conclusion

The results of this study indicate that AVI reflects features of arterial wave reflection and is an important factor for hs-cTnT elevation in hypertensive patients.

Factors Associated with High-sensitivity Cardiac Troponin T in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

BACKGROUND

The blood concentration of high-sensitivity cardiac troponin T (hs-cTnT) is an established, useful biomarker for evaluating the pathogenesis of heart failure and predicting cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to evaluate factors that are potentially associated with elevated blood hs-cTnT in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (N=280, 111 men and 169 women; mean ± SD age: 71±9 years) with no history of cardiovascular events were enrolled. Relationships between hs-cTnT level and various clinical parameters were examined.

RESULTS

Hs-cTnT was detected in 244 (87.1%) patients. There were no significant relationships between hs-cTnT and fasting blood glucose levels or insulin resistance. hs-cTnT was significantly correlated with advanced glycation end-product levels at the skin (r=0.23, p<0.001), blood concentrations of brain natriuretic peptide (r=0.23, p<0.001), reactive oxygen metabolites as markers of oxidative stress (r=0.28, p<0.001), and the augmentation index at the radial artery as marker of arterial reflection (r=0.31, p<0.001). Furthermore, multiple regression analysis revealed that these factors were also selected as independent variables, with hs-cTnT as a subordinate factor.

CONCLUSION

These results indicate that novel cardiovascular risk factors including advanced glycation end-products, in vivo oxidative stress, and high arterial reflection are closely associated with high concentrations of blood hs-cTnT in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Hemodynamic and hormonal patterns of untreated essential hypertension in men and women

BACKGROUND

Knowledge of hemodynamic factors accounting for the development of hypertension should help to tailor therapeutic approaches and improve blood pressure control. Few data exist regarding sex differences of hemodynamic factors contributing to hypertension progression among patients with untreated nondiabetic stage I and II prehypertension (PreHyp) as defined by the Joint National Committee-7 guidelines (JNC-7).

METHODS

We utilized noninvasive impedance cardiography, applanation tonometry and plasma measures of angiotensin II, angiotensin (1-7), serum aldosterone, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) and cytokine biomarkers of inflammation to characterize the hemodynamic and hormonal profile of 100 patients with untreated hypertension (39 women).

RESULTS

Despite there being no differences between women and men in terms of office blood pressure, heart rate and body mass index, men demonstrated lower values of pulse pressure, systemic vascular resistance, brachial artery pulse wave velocity and augmentation index. In each of the three hypertension categories, the increased blood pressure in men was associated with significant augmentations in stroke volume and cardiac output compared with women. Sex-related hemodynamic differences were associated in women with higher plasma levels of leptin, hs-CRP, plasma angiotensin II and serum aldosterone, and no differences in the serum concentrations of cytokinins. In women but not men, hs-CRP correlated with plasma concentrations of transforming growth factor β1 (TGFβ1) and body weight; in addition, plasma TGFβ1 correlated with levels of serum vascular cell adhesion molecule 1.

CONCLUSION

The impact of sex differences in the hemodynamic factors accounting for the elevation in arterial pressure in subjects with essential hypertension has been poorly characterized or this information is not available. We suggest that this gap in knowledge may adversely influence choices of drug treatment since our study shows for the first time significant differences in the hemodynamic and hormonal mechanisms accounting for the increased blood pressure in women compared to men.