Osteopontin associated with left ventricular hypertrophy and diastolic dysfunction in essential hypertension

To investigate the relationship between circulating osteopontin (OPN) and left ventricular (LV) geometry, as well as systolic and diastolic function in patients with essential hypertension. One hundred and ninety-nine essential hypertensive patients were recruited (mean age 62.5 ± 9.5, male 59%) in this study and were classified into two groups by the median of lg OPN: patients with lg OPN <0.975 (n = 100, 50.3%, low-OPN group) and patients with lg OPN > 0.975 (n = 99, 49.7%, high-OPN group). Patients in high-OPN group had higher left ventricular mass index (LVMI) than low-OPN group (112 ± 25 vs. 106 ± 19 g/m², p = 0.045) and higher ratio of peak early to tissue Doppler early diastolic (E/e': 11.5 ± 3.4 vs. 10.6 ± 2.5, p = 0.03). There was no difference in LV diameter, relative wall thickness, or LV ejection fraction between groups. The prevalence of left ventricular diastolic dysfunction (LVDD) was significantly greater in patients with high-OPN than low-OPN group (27% vs. 12%, P = 0.005). LVMI independently correlated to age (β = 0.239, p = 0.001), 24-h mean systolic blood pressure (β = 0.379, p < 0.001) and lg OPN (β = 0.146, p = 0.04), while adversely correlated with 24-h mean heart rate (β = -0.172, p = 0.02) in multivariable stepwise linear regression analysis. E/e' ratio was found independently correlated with age (β = 0.285, p < 0.001), sex (β = 0.204, p = 0.008) 24-h mean systolic blood pressure (β = 0.191, p = 0.01) and lg OPN (β = 0.152, p = 0.04) in multivariable stepwise linear regression analysis. In conclusion, circulating OPN was an independent risk factor for both LV hypertrophy and LVDD in essential hypertensive patients. However, OPN was not related to LV dimension and systolic function.