Abstract

The study objective was to assess the relationship between carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and arterial stiffness in subjects with hypertension, and to investigate the risk factors for increasing carotid IMT and arterial stiffening. 336 eligible residents participated in a community-based survey. Arterial stiffness and carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) were evaluated using carotid arterial stiffness parameter and high-resolution B-mode ultrasonography in 232 subjects with hypertension and 104 control subjects. Serum homocysteine and hs-C reactive protein (CRP) were measured. Arterial stiffness parameter and carotid IMT were significantly higher in the subjects with hypertension than those in the control (P<0.05). There was a significant positive  correlation between the carotid IMT and arterial stiffness parameter in both the subjects with hypertension (r=0.421, P < 0.001) and from the control group (r=0.337, P < 0.001). Homocysteine and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) increased with arterial stiffness and IMT (P < 0.05). Homocysteine, but not hs-CRP, was independently related to arterial stiffness parameter (P < 0.01) when age, smoking, hypertension, estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and the roles of high density lipoprotein (HDL)- cholesterol were accounted for (R2=0.330, P < 0.001). On the other hand, not only homocysteine but hs-CRP were independently related to IMT (P < 0.01, respectively) when age, smoking, hypertension and the roles of low density lipoprotein (LDL)-cholesterol were accounted for (R2=0.361, P < 0.001). The results indicate that there was association between arterial atherotic (structural) and sclerotic (functional) changes. Homocysteine, but not hs-CRP, associates with the changes of carotid artery IMT and arterial stiffness.

Key words: Arterial stiffness, intima-media thickness, homocysteine, hs-CRP.