Relationship between serum uric acid and internal carotid resistive index in hypertensive women: a cross-sectional study.
BACKGROUND
The impact of serum uric acid (SUA) on arteries of hypertensive subjects remains to be fully established. This study investigated the relationship between SUA and carotid structural and hemodynamic parameters in hypertensive men and women.


METHODS
Three hundred and thirty eight patients (207 women and 131 men) were cross-sectionally evaluated by clinical, laboratory, hemodynamic and carotid ultrasound analysis. Common carotid diameters, circumferential wall tensions, Young's Elastic Modulus, Stiffness Index, Arterial Compliance and intima-media thickness (IMT) were determined. Internal carotid artery resistive index (ICRI), a hemodynamic measure that reflects local vascular impedance and microangiopathy, was also assessed.


RESULTS
Univariate analysis showed no significant correlation of SUA with carotid diameters, elasticity/stiffness indexes, IMT and circumferential wall tensions in both genders. Conversely, SUA correlated with ICRI (r=0.34; p<0.001) in women, but not in men, and hyperuricemic women presented higher ICRI than normouricemic ones (0.684 ± 0.007 vs. 0.649 ± 0.004; p<0.001). Stepwise and logistic regression analyses adjusted for potential confounding factors showed that ICRI was independently associated with SUA and hyperuricemia in women.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrated that SUA was associated with ICRI in hypertensive women, suggesting that there might gender-related differences in the relationship between SUA and vascular damage in subjects with systemic hypertension.
Department of Internal Medicine, School of Medical Sciences, State University of Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil.
José Alexandre Addeo
JA
Cipolli
Maria Carolina
MC
Ferreira-Sae
Rafael Prado
RP
Martins
José Alexandre
JA
Pio-Magalhães
Vera Regina
VR
Bellinazzi
José Roberto
JR
Matos-Souza
Wilson Nadruz
WN
Junior
D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002343:Carotid Artery, Internal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D003187:Compliance; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D055119:Elastic Modulus; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D033461:Hyperuricemia / Q000097:blood* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000503:physiopathology*; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012737:Sex Factors; D014527:Uric Acid / Q000097:blood*; D014655:Vascular Resistance; D059289:Vascular Stiffness
D015415:Biomarkers; D014527:Uric Acid