[Circulating endothelial progenitor cell levels in treated hypertensive patients].
BACKGROUND
Most optimally treated hypertensive patients still have an around 50% increased risk of any cardiovascular event, suggesting the possible existence of unidentified risk factors. In the last years there has been evidence of the essential role of circulating endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) in the maintenance of endothelial integrity and function, increasing the interest in their involvement in cardiovascular disease. In this study, the circulating levels of EPCs and vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) are investigated in treated hypertensive patients with adequate control of blood pressure (BP).


METHODS
Blood samples were collected from treated hypertensive patients with controlled BP. Plasma levels of EPCs CD34+/KDR+ and CD34+/VE-cadherin+ were quantified by flow cytometry. Plasma concentration of VEGF was determined by ELISA. A group of healthy subjects without cardiovascular risk factors was included as controls.


RESULTS
A total of 108 hypertensive patients were included (61±12 years, 47.2% men) of which 82.4% showed BP<140/90 mmHg, 91.7% and 81.5% controlled diabetes (HbA1c <7%) and cLDL (<130 or 100 mg/dL), respectively, and 85.2% were non-smokers. Around 45% of them were obese. Although patients had cardiovascular parameters within normal ranges, they showed significantly lower levels of CD34+/KDR+ and CD34+/VE-cadherin+ compared with healthy control group, although plasma VEGF concentration was higher in patients than in controls.


CONCLUSIONS
Despite an optimal treatment, hypertensive patients show a decreased number of circulating EPCs that could be, at least in part, responsible for their residual cardiovascular risk, suggesting that these cells could be a therapeutic target.
Unidad de Hipertensión, Hospital Clínico San Carlos-Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, España.
C
C
Maroun-Eid
Laboratorio de Biología Vascular, Hospital Clínico San Carlos-IdISSC, Madrid, España.
A
A
Ortega-Hernández
Unidad de Hipertensión, Hospital Clínico San Carlos-Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, España.
M
M
Abad
Unidad de Hipertensión, Hospital Clínico San Carlos-Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, España.
J A
JA
García-Donaire
Unidad de Hipertensión, Hospital Clínico San Carlos-Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, España.
A
A
Barbero
Unidad de Lípidos, Hospital Clínico San Carlos-IdISSC, Madrid, España.
L
L
Reinares
Unidad de Hipertensión, Hospital Clínico San Carlos-Instituto de Investigación Sanitaria San Carlos (IdISSC), Madrid, España.
N
N
Martell-Claros
Laboratorio de Biología Vascular, Hospital Clínico San Carlos-IdISSC, Madrid, España. Electronic address: mgomezgarre@salud.madrid.org.
D
D
Gómez-Garre
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D018952:Antigens, CD34; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases; D042783:Endothelial Cells; D066026:Endothelial Progenitor Cells; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors; D013234:Stem Cells; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
D018952:Antigens, CD34; D042461:Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor A
Células progenitoras endoteliales; Endothelial progenitor cells; Hipertensión; Hypertension; Residual cardiovascular risk; Riesgo cardiovascular residual; Tratamiento; Treatment