title: Relation of uric acid levels to aortic root dilatation in hypertensive patients with and without metabolic syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Uric acid (UA) is considered to be a powerful predictor of cardiovascular risk and hyperuricemia might be involved in the metabolic syndrome (MS). This study aims to investigate the relation between UA levels and aortic root dilatation.
  
  
  METHODS
  A total of 348 hypertensive patients [age (67.5+/-9.8) years] with or without MS were included in the study. The aortic root diameters at the aortic annulus, the sinuses of Valsalva, the sinotubular junction, and the proximal part of the ascending aorta were measured using a two-dimensional (2D) echocardiography. Serum UA levels were also measured for all patients.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A high UA level is independently associated with aortic root diameters at the sinuses of Valsalva (P=0.001) and the proximal ascending aorta (P<0.0001) in the hypertensive patients without MS. In contrast, aortic root diameters were not significantly related to UA levels in the hypertensive patients with MS. Furthermore, increased UA levels were associated with an increased risk for aortic root dilatation in the patients without MS (sex-adjusted hazard ratio 1.75, 95% confidence intervals (CI) 1.27-2.41), but not in those with MS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This study demonstrated an independent relationship between the aortic root dimensions and increased levels of serum UA in the hypertensive patients without MS. Further understanding of the mechanisms underlying these associations may allow a clearer interpretation of the potential value of specific urate-lowering treatment on cardiovascular disease.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Taizhou Hospital, Wenzhou Medical College, China.
authors.forename: Li-jiang
authors.initials: LJ
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.forename: Jian-jun
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Jiang
authors.forename: Xiao-feng
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Jian-an
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Xian-fang
authors.initials: XF
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Yu-xi
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Du
authors.forename: Cong-feng
authors.initials: CF
authors.lastname: Fang
authors.forename: Zhao-xia
authors.initials: ZX
authors.lastname: Pu
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001018:Aortic Diseases / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004108:Dilatation, Pathologic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008297:Male; D024821:Metabolic Syndrome / Q000097:blood* / Q000150:complications; D008875:Middle Aged; D012306:Risk; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*
chemical_list: D014527:Uric Acid