title: The relation between serum cathepsin D level and carotid intima-media thickness in nondiabetic hypertensive patients.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We aimed to investigate the relation between carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and serum cathepsin D level in hypertensive patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  This was a cross-sectional study of 74 hypertensive patients (22 males and 52 females, with a mean age of 51.86 ± 11.75 years). Serum levels of cathepsin D were measured with an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. CIMT measurements were taken from 3 different points: right and left common carotid arteries, bifurcation, and the first 2 cm of the internal carotid artery. Mean CIMT was calculated by averaging the measurements taken 3 times from each carotid artery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean CIMT value was 0.76 ± 0.15 mm, and median cathepsin D level was 190.3 (12.8-2681.3) ng/mL. A marked positive correlation was found between cathepsin D levels and CIMT (r = 0.331, P = 0.04). In multivariate linear regression analysis, cathepsin D, albumin levels, and the duration of hypertension were significant predictors of CIMT (P = 0.017, P = 0.008, and P = 0.043, respectively).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Increased serum cathepsin D level was found to be associated with CIMT in nondiabetic hypertensive patients.
authors: Department of Nephrology, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Nihal
authors: N
authors: Özkayar
authors: Department of Nephrology, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Fatma
authors: F
authors: Akyel
authors: Department of Radiology, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Ayşe Nurdan
authors: AN
authors: Barça
authors: Department of Nephrology, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Serhan Vahit
authors: SV
authors: Pişkinpaşa
authors: Department of Biochemistry, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Turan
authors: T
authors: Turhan
authors: Department of Nephrology, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: İhsan
authors: İ
authors: Ateş
authors: Department of Nephrology, Ankara Numune Education and Research Hospital, Ankara, Turkey.
authors: Fatih
authors: F
authors: Dede
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D002339:Carotid Arteries; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D002402:Cathepsin D; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012307:Risk Factors
chemical_list: D002402:Cathepsin D
keywords: Atherosclerosis; carotid intima-media thickness; cathepsin D; hypertension