title: Osteoprotegerin is associated with cardiovascular risk in hypertension and/or diabetes.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoprotegerin (OPG), a secreted member of the tumour necrosis factor receptor superfamily of cytokines, has been associated with endothelial dysfunction. We studied in type 2 diabetic and/or hypertensive patients the relationship between serum OPG and vascular alterations associated with these pathologies.
  
  
  METHODS
  We analysed 191 consecutive patients (52 with type 2 diabetes and 139 hypertensive nondiabetic patients) and 54 healthy controls. We assessed the relationship of OPG serum levels measured by ELISA with basal glycaemia, glycosylated haemoglobin, blood pressure, endothelial dysfunction (assessed by pulse wave velocity), retinopathy (by Keith-Wagener classification), left ventricular hypertrophy (by Cornell index), cardiovascular risk and target organs (heart, vascular, kidney) damage.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum OPG levels were higher in either hypertensive or diabetic patients and in patients with non-dipper and riser circadian blood pressure patterns. We found significant correlations between OPG levels and age, height, glycaemia, systolic, diastolic and pulse blood pressure, pulse wave velocity and left ventricular hypertrophy in both hypertensive and diabetic patients. OPG levels were also higher in hypertensive patients with retinopathy, patients with high probability of 10-year cardiovascular risk, patients with three or more damaged target organs (heart, vessels, kidneys) and patients with previous episodes of ischaemic cardiopathy or hypercholesterolaemia.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Osteoprotegerin is an indicator of diabetes- and hypertension-associated vascular pathologies as endothelial dysfunction and cardiovascular risk.
authors: Renal and Cardiovascular Pathophysiology Unit, Institute Queen Sofía of Nephrological Research, Department of Physiology and Pharmacology, University of Salamanca, Salamanca, Spain.
authors: Ana M
authors: AM
authors: Blázquez-Medela
authors: Luis
authors: L
authors: García-Ortiz
authors: Manuel A
authors: MA
authors: Gómez-Marcos
authors: José I
authors: JI
authors: Recio-Rodriguez
authors: Angel
authors: A
authors: Sánchez-Rodríguez
authors: José M
authors: JM
authors: López-Novoa
authors: Carlos
authors: C
authors: Martínez-Salgado
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D001794:Blood Pressure; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000097:blood*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003924:Diabetes Mellitus, Type 2 / Q000097:blood*; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D053244:Osteoprotegerin / Q000097:blood*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013997:Time Factors
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D053244:Osteoprotegerin