Monocyte/HDL ratio predicts hypertensive complications

Area of Science:

• Cardiology
• Nephrology
• Ophthalmology

Background:

• Hypertension management requires effective tools for predicting end-organ damage.
• Non-dipper hypertension (NDHT) is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and end-organ damage compared to dipper hypertension (DHT).
• The monocyte/HDL ratio (MHR) is a potential inflammatory marker.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the monocyte/HDL ratio (MHR) as a predictor of end-organ damage in hypertensive patients.
• To determine if MHR can differentiate between non-dipper (NDHT) and dipper (DHT) hypertension.
• To explore the association between MHR and specific end-organ damage markers.

Main Methods:

• Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring was used to classify 70 NDHT and 73 DHT patients.
• Laboratory parameters and spot urine analysis were performed.
• Transthoracic echocardiography and ophthalmological examinations assessed end-organ damage.

Main Results:

• MHR was significantly higher in the NDHT group compared to the DHT group (p≤0.001).
• NDHT patients showed higher urinary albumin, creatinine, protein, and protein/creatinine ratios (p≤0.05).
• Left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) and retinopathy were more prevalent in the NDHT group (p≤0.001). MHR was significantly higher in patients with LVH and retinopathy (p=0.001).

Conclusions:

• The MHR is a simple, non-invasive marker for predicting end-organ damage in hypertension.
• MHR can effectively distinguish between dipper and non-dipper hypertension.
• Elevated MHR supports the role of inflammation in hypertension-related end-organ damage.