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05:41
Non-invasive Assessment of Microvascular and Endothelial Function
Published on: January 29, 2013
Association between hemoglobin level and endothelial function in uncomplicated, untreated hypertensive patients
Raffaele Maio1, Angela Sciacqua, Rosamaria Bruni
1Internal Medicine and Cardiovascular Diseases Unit, Department of Experimental and Clinical Medicine G. Salvatore, University Magna Græcia, Catanzaro, Italy.
Clinical Journal of the American Society of Nephrology : CJASN
|November 13, 2010
Summary
Hemoglobin levels are inversely related to endothelium-dependent vasodilation in hypertensive patients. Lower hemoglobin concentration is associated with better blood vessel function, highlighting its importance in vascular health studies.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Physiology
- Vascular Biology
- Hypertension Research
Background:
- Hemoglobin (Hb) influences nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability.
- Endothelial dysfunction is prevalent in hypertension.
- Hemoglobin concentration ([Hb]) may impact vascular function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between hemoglobin concentration and endothelium-dependent vasodilation.
- To assess the role of [Hb] in vascular function in essential hypertension.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective study of 174 untreated hypertensive patients.
- Forearm blood flow assessed via strain-gauge plethysmography during intra-arterial infusions of acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP).
- Correlation with cardiovascular risk factors performed.
Main Results:
- Vasodilatory response to ACh was inversely and dose-dependently related to [Hb] (P < 0.001).
- No association found between [Hb] and response to SNP.
- [Hb] independently predicted ACh-induced vasodilation in regression models adjusted for multiple risk factors (P < 0.001).
Conclusions:
- In untreated hypertensive individuals, [Hb] is inversely related to forearm endothelium-dependent vasodilation.
- [Hb] is an important factor to consider in vascular function studies, particularly in conditions with low [Hb].
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