Association of plasma adrenomedullin with carotid atherosclerosis in chronic ischemic stroke.
Adrenomedullin is a potent vasodilator peptide exerting anti-atherosclerotic actions in vitro. We investigated the impact of the severity of atherosclerosis on plasma mature-adrenomedullin (m-AM) levels in 38 patients with chronic ischemic stroke. The variables of carotid artery atherosclerosis assessed using ultrasound measurement, blood pressure, and risk factors were related to m-AM levels. Severe atherosclerosis was associated with a further elevation of the increased m-AM level in patients with high systolic blood pressure. Even in patients with fewer risk factors, the presence of severe atherosclerosis was associated with an increased m-AM level. Thus, atherosclerosis elevates m-AM independent of the blood pressure level or presence of risk factors.
Shinomiya
K
K
Second Department of Internal Medicine, Kagawa Medical University, 761-0793, Kagawa, Japan.
Ohmori
K
K
Ohyama
H
H
Hosomi
N
N
Takahashi
T
T
Osaka
K
K
Kohno
M
M
D053607:Adrenomedullin; D000368:Aged; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002545:Brain Ischemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002340:Carotid Artery Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology; D002908:Chronic Disease; D006339:Heart Rate; D006801:Humans; D010455:Peptides / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D020521:Stroke / Q000097:blood* / Q000503:physiopathology
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D010455:Peptides; D053607:Adrenomedullin