Prognostic significance of small-artery structure in hypertension.
BACKGROUND
The presence of structural alterations in the microcirculation may be considered an important mechanism of organ damage; however, it is not currently known whether structural alterations of small arteries may predict fatal and nonfatal cardiovascular events.


RESULTS
One hundred twenty-eight patients were included in the present study. There were 59 patients with essential hypertension, 17 with pheochromocytoma, 20 with primary aldosteronism, 12 with renovascular hypertension, and 20 normotensive patients with non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. All subjects were submitted to a biopsy of subcutaneous fat. Small resistance arteries were dissected and mounted on an isometric myograph, and the tunica media-to-internal lumen ratio (M/L) was measured. The subjects were reevaluated after an average follow-up time of 5.4 years. Thirty-seven subjects had a documented fatal or nonfatal cardiovascular event (5.32 events/100 patients per year). In the subcutaneous small arteries of subjects with cardiovascular events, a smaller internal diameter and a clearly greater M/L was observed. Our subjects were subdivided according to the presence of an M/L greater or smaller than the mean and median values observed in the whole population (0.098) or mean value +2 SD of our normal subjects (0.11). Life-table analyses showed a significant difference in event-free survival between the subgroups. Cox's proportional hazard model, considering all known cardiovascular risk factors, indicated that only pulse pressure (P=0.009) and M/L (P<0.0001) were significantly associated with the occurrence of cardiovascular events.


CONCLUSIONS
Our results strongly indicate a relevant prognostic role of structural alterations in small resistance arteries of a high-risk population.
Rizzoni
Damiano
D
Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Brescia, Italy. rizzoni@med.unibs.it
Porteri
Enzo
E
Boari
Gianluca E M
GE
De Ciuceis
Carolina
C
Sleiman
Intissar
I
Muiesan
Maria Lorenza
ML
Castellano
Maurizio
M
Miclini
Marco
M
Agabiti-Rosei
Enrico
E
D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001160:Arterioles / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D001706:Biopsy; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000150:complications; D018450:Disease Progression; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006929:Hyperaldosteronism / Q000150:complications; D006973:Hypertension / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006977:Hypertension, Renal / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009213:Myography; D010673:Pheochromocytoma / Q000150:complications*; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D012016:Reference Values; D040521:Subcutaneous Tissue / Q000098:blood supply / Q000473:pathology; D014654:Vascular Patency