0000000000033783
AUTHOR
T. Bellavia
1.12 C-Reactive Protein is Associated with Aortic Stiffness Independently of Microalbuminuria in Essential Hypertension
The Association of Microalbuminuria With Aortic Stiffness Is Independent of C-Reactive Protein in Essential Hypertension
BACKGROUND It has not been fully elucidated whether microalbuminuria (MAU) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP) are associated with aortic distensibility independently of each other. Our study was aimed to evaluate the independent relationships of urinary albumin excretion rate (AER) and hsCRP with aortic stiffness in hypertensive patients. METHODS We enrolled 140 untreated nondiabetic essential hypertensives (mean age: 48 +/- 12 years). In all subjects, 24-hour AER and plasma levels of hsCRP were determined by immunoenzymatic assay. MAU was defined as an AER of 20-200 microg/min. Aortic stiffness was assessed by measurement of carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV). RESULTS C…