title: C-reactive Protein among Community-Dwelling Hypertensives on Single-agent Antihypertensive Treatment.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  C-reactive protein is a predictor of adverse cardiovascular outcomes. The effect of antihypertensive therapy on C-reactive protein levels is largely unknown.
  
  
  METHODS
  We undertook a cross-sectional study of CRP levels among participants with primary hypertension on single-agent anti-hypertensive therapy in the community-based biracial Genetic Epidemiology Network of Arteriopathy cohort. Linear regression models were used to assess the association of anti-hypertensive medication class with log-transformed C-reactive protein after adjustment for age, gender, ethnicity, body mass index, smoking, diabetes, HMG-Co-A reductase inhibitor use, achieved blood pressure control (<140/90 mmHg), serum creatinine and urine albumin-to-creatinine ratios.
  
  
  RESULTS
  There were 662 participants in the cohort taking single-agent therapy for hypertension. Median C-reactive protein levels differed across participants: 0.40 mg/dL for those on diuretics, 0.34 mg/dL on calcium channel blockers, 0.25 mg/dL on beta blockers and 0.27 mg/dL on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors (p<0.001). With multivariable adjustment, the group on renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors had a 20% lower mean CRP on average than the group on diuretics (p=0.044), differences between other medication classes were not apparent. Heart rate had a strong association with C-reactive protein (p < 0.001).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Antihypertensive medication class may influence inflammation, particularly in patients on RAAS inhibitors.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine, University of Mississippi Medical Center, Jackson, MS, United States.
authors.forename: Tibor
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Fulop
authors.forename: Andrew D
authors.initials: AD
authors.lastname: Rule
authors.forename: Darren W
authors.initials: DW
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Heather J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Wiste
authors.forename: Kent R
authors.initials: KR
authors.lastname: Bailey
authors.forename: Iftikhar J
authors.initials: IJ
authors.lastname: Kullo
authors.forename: Gary L
authors.initials: GL
authors.lastname: Schwartz
authors.forename: Thomas H
authors.initials: TH
authors.lastname: Mosley
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Boerwinkle
authors.forename: Stephen T
authors.initials: ST
authors.lastname: Turner