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Impact of lipid profile and high blood pressure on endothelial damage
Tomonori Sugiura1, Yasuaki Dohi, Sumiyo Yamashita
1Department of Cardio-Renal Medicine and Hypertension, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kawasumi 1, Mizuho-cho, Mizuho-ku, Nagoya 467-8601, Japan. tomosugi@med.nagoya-cu.ac.jp
Insights
High cholesterol and blood pressure impair endothelial function, a key factor in early atherosclerosis. These cardiovascular risks contribute to vascular damage, even in mild hypertension.
Area of Science:
- Cardiovascular Research
- Vascular Biology
- Metabolic Syndrome
Background:
- Endothelial damage is an early indicator of atherosclerosis.
- The influence of cardiovascular risk factors on endothelial function requires further clarification.
- This study investigates the impact of lipid profiles and hypertension on endothelial function.
Purpose of the Study:
- To assess the effect of lipid profiles and hypertension on endothelial function in Japanese male outpatients.
- To determine the relationship between cardiovascular risk factors and endothelial damage.
- To identify determinants of impaired endothelial function.
Main Methods:
- Enrolled 50 Japanese male outpatients (25 hypertensive, 25 normotensive) with Grade I or II hypertension.
- Excluded subjects with severe cardiovascular risks or on medication.
- Assessed endothelial function via flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and analyzed blood lipid profiles.
Main Results:
- The total cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio (total-C/HDL-C) negatively correlated with FMD, indicating impaired endothelial function.
- Systolic blood pressure and high total-C/HDL-C were significant predictors of reduced FMD.
- Hypertensive individuals exhibited lower FMD, irrespective of similar lipid profiles compared to normotensive subjects.
Conclusions:
- Impaired endothelial function is linked to elevated total-C/HDL-C, potentially due to increased vascular oxidative stress and inflammation.
- Both total-C/HDL-C and blood pressure significantly contribute to endothelial damage in early atherosclerosis.
- These findings highlight the combined impact of lipid profiles and hypertension on vascular health.
Background:
Endothelial damage is an early component of atherosclerosis; however, the impact of cardiovascular risk factors on endothelial function is not clearly understood. We investigated the impact of lipid profiles and high blood pressure on damage.
Objective:
Japanese male outpatients with grade I or II hypertension, along with gender and age-matched normotensive subjects (both n = 25), were enrolled. Subjects with severe cardiovascular risk factors or illness or those taking medications were excluded. Blood was sampled for laboratory analysis and endothelial function was assessed by flow-mediated dilation (FMD).
Results:
Total cholesterol to high-density lipoprotein cholesterol ratio (total-C/HDL-C) was inversely correlated with the FMD value and positively correlated with both malondialdehyde-modified low-density lipoprotein and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein values. Stepwise regression analysis revealed total-C/HDL-C and systolic blood pressure were significant determinants of FMD. Hypertensive subjects had lower FMD values and similar lipid profiles to normotensive subjects. Grouping subjects according to total-C/HDL-C levels showed that those with high values had lower FMD values. Hypertensive subjects with low total-C/HDL-C had similar endothelial index values to those in normotensive subjects with high total-C/HDL-C. Logistic regression indicated hypertension and high total-C/HDL-C were significantly associated with low FMD values.
Conclusion:
Impaired endothelial function was associated with increased total-C/HDL-C values, possibly as the result of increased vascular oxidative stress and inflammation. In the early stages of atherosclerosis, the impact of both total-C/HDL-C and BP may be similar in terms of endothelial damage.
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