title: C-reactive protein and target organ damage in untreated patients with primary hypertension.
abstract: High sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) has been recognized as a risk factor for cardiovascular disease. Asymptomatic organ damage is known to precede cardiovascular events in hypertension. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between hs-CRP and signs of organ damage, namely left ventricular mass index (LVMI), albuminuria, and carotid atherosclerosis in a group of hypertensive patients. One hundred and eighty-two untreated patients with primary hypertension were studied. HS-CRP was measured by immunonephelometry. LVMI was assessed by echocardiography, albuminuria was measured as albumin to creatinine ratio, and carotid atherosclerosis by ultrasonography. Patient stratification according to quartiles of hs-CRP showed a significant trend toward higher age, prevalence of left ventricular hypertrophy, and carotid plaques. Moreover, there was a significant correlation among hs-CRP quartiles and left ventricular mass index, carotid cross-sectional area, carotid plaques, and albuminuria. Multiple regression analysis showed that, after adjusting for established cardiovascular risk factors (ie, age, duration of hypertension, smoking habit, body mass index (BMI), 24-hour systolic and diastolic blood pressures, glucose, creatinine, uric acid, triglycerides, total and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol), hs-CRP remained a strong correlate of target organ damage. These results support the importance of chronic microinflammation in the development of atherosclerotic disease in hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardio-Nephrology, Azienda Ospedaliera Universitaria San Martino, Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Ratto
authors.forename: Giovanna
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Leoncini
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Viazzi
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Falqui
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Parodi
authors.forename: Novella
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Conti
authors.forename: Cinzia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Tomolillo
authors.forename: Giacomo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Deferrari
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Pontremoli