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Association between human cartilage glycoprotein 39 (YKL-40) and arterial stiffness in essential hypertension

Wei-hong Ma1, Xiu-ling Wang, Yi-meng Du

  • 1Department of Cardiology, The Second Hospital of Shandong University, Jinan, 250033, China.

BMC Cardiovascular Disorders
|May 31, 2012
PubMed

Insights

Elevated YKL-40 levels are linked to increased arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients. This suggests YKL-40 may contribute to vascular complications in essential hypertension.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiovascular Research
  • Biomarker Discovery
  • Hypertension Studies

Background:

  • YKL-40 is a proposed marker for inflammation and endothelial dysfunction.
  • It is associated with atherosclerosis and cardiovascular mortality in the general population.
  • The link between YKL-40 and arterial stiffness in hypertension is not well-established.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the relationship between serum YKL-40 levels and arterial stiffness in essential hypertensive patients.
  • To assess YKL-40 as a potential biomarker for vascular complications in hypertension.

Main Methods:

  • Serum YKL-40 levels were measured using ELISA in 93 hypertensive and 80 normotensive subjects.
  • Arterial stiffness was assessed via femoral arterial stiffness and carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (cf-PWV).
  • Hypertensive subjects were stratified by urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio (ACR).

Main Results:

  • YKL-40, cf-PWV, and femoral arterial stiffness were significantly higher in hypertensive versus normotensive individuals.
  • These markers were also elevated in hypertensive patients with microalbuminuria compared to those without.
  • YKL-40 showed a significant positive correlation with cf-PWV and femoral arterial stiffness.

Conclusions:

  • Serum YKL-40 levels are elevated in essential hypertension.
  • There is an independent association between higher YKL-40 levels and increased arterial stiffness.
  • YKL-40 may play a role in the progression of vascular complications in essential hypertension.
Abstract

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