title: Circulating stromelysin concentration is elevated in hypertensive aortic root dilatation.
abstract: Accumulating data suggest that activity of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) is increased in aortic dissection, and in thoracic and abdominal aneurysms. In the present study we sought to determine circulating stromelysin (MMP-3) concentration and its relationship with hypertension-induced aortic root dilatation. The study population included 42 patients with essential hypertension. The subjects were divided into two groups according to echocardiographically measured aortic diameter as those with aortic dilatation (n = 22) and without aortic root dilatation (n = 20). Plasma concentration of MMP-3 was determined by one-step sandwich enzyme immunoassay (EIA) method and compared in both groups. Baseline demographic properties were similar in both groups. Plasma stromelysin (MMP-3) level was significantly higher in patients with aortic dilatation than those without aortic dilatation (5.2 +/- 2.3 vs 3.3 +/- 1.9 ng/ml; P = 0.007). In conclusion, we found that circulating stromelysin (MMP-3) concentration was elevated in hypertension-induced aortic root dilatation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Avicenna Hospital, Istanbul, Turkey. irfanbarutcu@yahoo.com
authors.forename: Irfan
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Barutcu
authors.forename: Osman
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Karakaya
authors.forename: Ali Metin
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Esen
authors.forename: Serkan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Dogan
authors.forename: Mustafa
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saglam
authors.forename: Ramazan
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kargin
authors.forename: Hekim
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Karapinar
authors.forename: Yusuf
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Karavelioglu
authors.forename: Taylan
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Akgun
authors.forename: Ozlem
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Esen
authors.forename: Nihal
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ozdemir
authors.forename: Sembol
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Turkmen
authors.forename: Cihangir
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Kaymaz