Journal of Hypertension: Open Access

Association among Systolic Blood Pressure Variation, Inflammation and Arterial Rigidity in Essential Hypertension

Abstract

Caoqian Jiangyan, Lvwei Zhengliqiang and Mashumei Lixiaodong

Objective: To assess the relationship among systolic blood pressure variation (BPV), inflammation and arterial rigidity in essential hypertension. Methods: This study enrolled 80 patients with essential hypertension, who were started on blood pressure control treatment with medications and lifestyle modification, and 18 normotensive healthy controls. At enrollment and 1-year follow-up, systolic BPV was evaluated by coefficient of variation (CV) in ambulatory blood pressure monitoring; arterial rigidity by brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (ba-PWV) using ColinVP-1000; and inflammation by high-sensitivity plasma C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) level using rate nephelometry; electrocardiography, blood glucose, lipid profile, creatinine, blood urea nitrogen, and liver and renal function also were assessed. Results: There were no significant differences in demographics, clinical or biochemical profiles between patients and normotensive controls, except for blood pressure at enrollment but not 1-year follow-up, reflecting effectiveness of blood pressure control measures, with significant decreases in CV, ba-PWV and hs-CRP between enrollment and 1-year follow-up in hypertensive patients; change in CV significantly correlated with those in ba-PWV and hs-CRP (both P<0.001, adjusted by SBP d). Conclusion: The effect of systolic BPV on arterial rigidity could be mediated by its influence on the onset and progression of inflammation.