Age-related increase of pulse pressure and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 I/D gene polymorphism in essential hypertension.
BACKGROUND
Pulse pressure (PP), a marker of cyclic strain on the arterial wall, is a significant predictor of cardiovascular (CV) risk, particularly regarding the incidence of coronary arterial stenosis. Genes related to haemostatic and/or fibrinolytic factors are consistently influenced in vitro by mechanical strain.


OBJECTIVE
The goal of the present study was to determine, in the three genotypes of the plasminogen activator inhibitor (PAI)-1 gene polymorphism, the gender-adjusted difference in the relationships between age and PP in subjects with never treated essential hypertension.


RESULTS
In the studied population, the genotype deletion (D)/D at position -675 of the PAI-1 insertion (I)/D gene polymorphism was associated with a significant increase in the adjusted slope of the curve relating age to PP by comparison with the two other genotypes. No comparable difference in age-related changes in systolic, diastolic or mean blood pressure was found.


CONCLUSIONS
In subjects with essential hypertension, the PAI-1 I/D gene polymorphism modulates the age-mediated increase of PP, suggesting new insights on the complex interactions between genes, mechanical factors and CV risk.
Mourad
J-J
JJ
Department of Internal Medicine, Avicenne Hospital-AP-HP, Bobigny, France.
du Cailar
G
G
Nazal
E-M
EM
Safar
M E
ME
Mimran
A
A
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology*; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D017353:Gene Deletion; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics* / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1 / Q000235:genetics*; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic / Q000235:genetics*; D012307:Risk Factors
D017395:Plasminogen Activator Inhibitor 1