title: Enhanced blood pressure variability in a high cardiovascular risk group of African Americans: FIT4Life Study.
abstract: High blood pressure (BP) levels in African Americans elicit vascular inflammation resulting in vascular remodeling. BP variability (BPV) correlates with target organ damage. We aimed to investigate the relationship between inflammatory markers and BPV in African Americans. Thirty-six African Americans underwent 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring (ABPM). BPV was calculated using the average real variability index. Fasting blood samples were assayed for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha), and white blood cell (WBC) count. Significant associations between hs-CRP and 24-hour systolic variability (r=0.50; P=.012) and awake systolic variability (r=0.45; P=.02) were identified after adjusting for age, body mass index, and 24-hour mean BP. ABPM variables were compared between the hs-CRP tertile groups. In post-hoc analysis, there was a significant difference in 24-hour and awake periods for both systolic and diastolic variability among the groups. TNF-alpha and WBC count showed no associations with ABPM variables. hs-CRP was associated with systolic variability, and higher levels of hs-CRP were related with greater BPV. Higher inflammatory status influences wider fluctuations in systolic BP, which in turn could facilitate early progression to target organ damage independent of absolute BP levels in African Americans.
authors.affiliation: Department of Kinesiology, College of Health Professions, Cardiovascular Research Center, School of Medicine, Temple University, Philadelphia, PA 19122, USA. praveenv@temple.edu
authors.forename: Praveen
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Veerabhadrappa
authors.forename: Keith M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Diaz
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Feairheller
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Sturgeon
authors.forename: Sheara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Williamson
authors.forename: Deborah L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Crabbe
authors.forename: Abul
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kashem
authors.forename: Debra
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Ahrensfield
authors.forename: Michael D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Brown
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D044383:Black People; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D018660:Blood Pressure Monitoring, Ambulatory; D002097:C-Reactive Protein / Q000032:analysis*; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000517:prevention & control; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology; D003971:Diastole / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D007958:Leukocyte Count; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015143:Philadelphia; D013599:Systole / Q000502:physiology; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha / Q000097:blood*; D001741:Black or African American
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D014409:Tumor Necrosis Factor-alpha; D002097:C-Reactive Protein