High incidence and clinical characteristics of fibromuscular dysplasia in patients with spontaneous cervical artery dissection: The ARCADIA-POL study.

The association between fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) and spontaneous cervical artery dissection (SCeAD) has been recognized, but the available evidence on this relationship is scant. Therefore, the main goal of our study was to systematically evaluate FMD frequency, clinical characteristics and vascular bed involvement in patients with SCeAD. Among 230 patients referred to the ARCADIA-POL study, 43 patients (mean age 44.1 ± 8.9 years; 15 men and 28 women) with SCeAD were referred. Also, 135 patients with FMD were compared to patients with and without SCeAD. Patients underwent: ambulatory blood pressure measurements, biochemical evaluation, echocardiographic examination, and whole body computed tomographic angiography. FMD changes were found in 39.5% of patients with SCeAD. There were no differences in clinical characteristics between patients with SCeAD and FMD and those without FMD, except for a tendency towards a higher female ratio in SCeAD patients with FMD. There were no differences in other parameters describing target organ and SCeAD characteristics. Patients with SCeAD and FMD compared to those without SCeAD were characterized by a lower frequency of hypertension and a higher frequency of hyperlipidemia and history of contraceptive hormone use. Our study indicates a high incidence (39.5%) of FMD in subjects with SCeAD. Since there are no distinctive discriminating factors between patients with SCeAD and FMD and those without FMD, FMD should be suspected in all patients with SCeAD.

Prevalence of smoking and clinical characteristics in fibromuscular dysplasia. The ARCADIA-POL study.

PURPOSE: Smoking was identified as a potential factor contributing to fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). To evaluate the prevalence of smoking and clinical characteristics in FMD subjects. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We analysed 190 patients with confirmed FMD in at least one vascular bed. The rate of smokers in FMD patients was compared to that in two control groups selected from a nationwide survey. RESULTS: The rate of smokers in FMD patients was 42.6%. There were no differences in frequency of smokers between FMD patients and: a group of 994 matched control subjects from general population and a group of matched hypertensive subjects. There were no differences in the characteristics of FMD (including rates of multisite FMD and significant renal artery stenosis) and its complications (including rates of dissections and aneurysms) between smokers and non-smokers. Smokers as compared with non-smokers were characterized by higher left ventricle mass index. CONCLUSIONS: There is no difference in the rate of smokers between FMD patients and subjects from the general population. Moreover, we did not find any association between smoking and clinical characteristics of FMD patients nor its extent and vascular complications. Our results do not support the hypothesis that smoking is involved in the pathophysiology of FMD.

Systematic and Multidisciplinary Evaluation of Fibromuscular Dysplasia Patients Reveals High Prevalence of Previously Undetected Fibromuscular Dysplasia Lesions and Affects Clinical Decisions: The ARCADIA-POL Study.

Fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD), regarded as a generalized vascular disease, may affect all vascular beds and may result in arterial stenosis, occlusion, aneurysm, or dissection. It has been proposed to systematically evaluate all vascular beds in patients with FMD, regardless of initial FMD involvement. However, the impact of this approach on clinical decisions and on management is unknown. Within the prospective ARCADIA-POL study (Assessment of Renal and Cervical Artery Dysplasia-Poland), we evaluated 232 patients with FMD lesions confirmed in at least one vascular bed, out of 343 patients included in the registry. All patients underwent a detailed clinical evaluation including computed tomography angiography of intracranial and cervical arteries, as well as computed tomography angiography of the abdominal aorta, its branches, and upper and lower extremity arteries. In the study group, FMD lesions were most frequently found in renal arteries (87.5%). FMD was also found in cerebrovascular (24.6%), mesenteric (13.8%), and upper (3.0%) and lower extremity (9.9 %) arteries. Newly diagnosed FMD lesions were found in 34.1% of the patients, and previously undetected vascular complications were found in 25% of the patients. Among all FMD patients included in the study, one out of every 4 evaluated patients qualified for interventional treatment due to newly diagnosed FMD lesions or vascular complications. The ARCADIA-POL study shows for the first time that the systematic and multidisciplinary evaluation of patients with FMD based on a whole-body computed tomography angiography scan has an impact on their clinical management. This proved the necessity of the systematic evaluation of all vascular beds in patients with FMD, regardless of initial FMD involvement.

Dissecting visceral fibromuscular dysplasia reveals a new vascular phenotype of the disease: a report from the ARCADIA-POL study.

OBJECTIVE: Visceral artery fibromuscular dysplasia (VA FMD) manifestations range from asymptomatic to life-threatening. The aim of the study is to evaluate the prevalence and clinical characteristics of VA FMD. METHODS: A total of 232 FMD patients enrolled into ongoing ARCADIA-POL study were included in this analysis. All patients underwent detailed clinical evaluation including ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, biobanking, duplex Doppler of carotid and abdominal arteries and whole body angio-computed tomography. Three control groups (patients with renal FMD without visceral involvement, healthy normotensive patients and resistant hypertensive patients) matched for age and sex were included. RESULTS: VA FMD was present in 32 patients (13.8%). Among these patients (women: 84.4%), FMD lesions were more frequent in celiac trunk (83.1%), 62.5% of patients showed at least one visceral aneurysm, and five patients presented with severe complications related to VA FMD. No demographic differences were found between patients with VA FMD and individuals from the three control groups, with the exception of lower weight (P < 0.001) and BMI (P < 0.001) in VA FMD patients. Patients with FMD (with or without visceral artery involvement) showed significantly smaller visceral arterial diameters compared with controls without FMD. CONCLUSION: Patients with FMD showed smaller visceral arterial diameters when compared with patients without FMD. This may reflect a new phenotype of FMD, as a generalized arteriopathy, what needs further investigation. Lower BMI in patients with VA FMD might be explained by chronic mesenteric ischemia resulting from FMD lesions. FMD visceral involvement and visceral arterial aneurysms in patients with renal FMD are far to be rare. This strengthens the need for a systematic evaluation of all vascular beds, including visceral arteries, regardless of initial FMD involvement.

Relationship between renal resistive index and early target organ damage in patients with never-treated essential hypertension.

The aim of our study was to evaluate renal resistive index (RI) value in never treated hypertensive patients in relation to ambulatory blood pressure measurement (ABPM) values and early target organ damage. The study included 318 subjects: 223 patients with never treated essential hypertension (mean age 37.1 years) and 95 normotensive healthy subjects (mean age 37.9 years). ABPM, echocardiography and carotid and renal arteries duplex color Doppler examinations were performed. RI values in patients with never treated essential hypertension were no different from the normotensive control group (0.59 +/- 0.05 vs 0.59 +/- 0.05; NS). In the untreated patients RI correlated significantly with 24-h pulse pressure (r=0.234; p<0.01) and ambulatory arterial stiffness index (AASI) values (r=0.274; p<0.001), intima-media thickness (IMT) (r=0.249; p<0.001), E'/A' (rho= -0.279; p<0.001) and relative wall thickness (RWT; r=0.185; p<0.01). In the multivariate stepwise analysis, RI values correlated independently with carotid IMT (beta=0.272; p=0.020) and 24-h AASI values (beta=0.305; p=0.009). In normotensive healthy controls, significant independent correlation between RI and carotid IMT and 24-h AASI values were also found. Our study may indicate limited value of RI in differentiating patients with uncomplicated hypertension with healthy controls. Renal resistive values were independently correlated with carotid IMT and AASI. These may suggest that renal vascular resistance is related to two markers for cardiovascular events both in the hypertensive and normotensive subjects.

Mechanisms of Myocardial Infarction in Patients With Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease: Results From the Optical Coherence Tomography Study.

OBJECTIVES: This study sought to assess the presence and morphological features of coronary plaques on optical coherence tomography (OCT) as the causes of myocardial infarction with nonobstructive coronary arteries (MINOCA). BACKGROUND: Although coronary atherosclerosis has been postulated as a potential mechanism of MINOCA, the interaction between disrupted coronary plaques and myocardial injury remains unknown. METHODS: In a prospective study, consecutive patients with MI but without significant coronary stenosis (≥50%) at angiography underwent OCT and cardiac magnetic resonance (CMR) with late gadolinium-enhancement (LGE). The infarct-related artery (IRA) was identified by localization of ischemic-type LGE. RESULTS: Thirty-eight MINOCA patients (mean age 62 ± 13 years, 55% female, 39% with ST-segment elevation) were enrolled. Maximal diameter stenosis was 35% by angiography, and 5 patients (13%) had normal angiogram results. Plaque disruption and coronary thrombus were observed in 9 patients (24%) and 7 patients (18%), respectively. Sixteen of 31 patients (52%) undergoing CMR showed LGE. Ischemic-type LGE was present in 7 patients (23%) and was more common in patients with than without plaque disruption (50% vs. 13%, respectively; p = 0.053) and coronary thrombus (67% vs. 12%, respectively; p = 0.014). In the per-lesion analysis, the IRA showed significantly more plaque disruption (40% vs. 6%; p = 0.02), thrombus (50% vs. 4%; p = 0.014), and thin-cap fibroatheroma (70% vs. 30%; p = 0.03) than the non-IRA. CONCLUSIONS: Plaque disruption and thrombus are not uncommon in MI without obstructive coronary stenoses at angiography and may be associated with the presence and location of ischemic-type myocardial injury on CMR. OCT may be valuable in identifying atherosclerotic etiology in individuals with MINOCA. (Optical Coherence Tomography in Patients With Acute Myocardial Infarction and Nonobstructive Coronary Artery Disease [SOFT-MI]; NCT02783963).

Association of intrarenal blood flow with renal function and target organ damage in hypertensive patients with fibromuscular dysplasia: the ARCADIA-POL study.

INTRODUCTION Data on the assessment of intrarenal blood flow parameters in patients with renal fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD) are scarce. OBJECTIVES The aim of the study was to evaluate intrarenal blood flow parameters in patients with FMD and significant or nonsignificant renal artery stenosis (RAS). PATIENTS AND METHODS We evaluated intrarenal blood flow parameters by Doppler ultrasonography in 153 patients with renal FMD enrolled in the ARCADIA­POL study: 32 and 121 patients with and without significant RAS, respectively, compared with 60 matched patients with essential hypertension and 60 healthy controls. RESULTS Patients with FMD and significant RAS had a lower renal resistive index (RRI) compared with patients with FMD without significant RAS, patients with essential hypertension, and normotensive controls (mean [SD], 0.51 [0.08] vs 0.60 [0.07], 0.62 [0.06], and 0.61 [0.06], respectively; P <0.001). In patients with nonsignificant RAS, RRI correlated significantly with carotid intima-media thickness, 24­hour diastolic blood pressure, 24­hour pulse pressure, left ventricular diastolic function, known duration time of hypertension, and age. In patients with significant RAS, there was a significant correlation between RRI and known duration time of hypertension, left ventricular diastolic function, and age. In a separate, "per­kidney" analysis, renal arteries with FMD and significant RAS were characterized by lower RRI values, higher maximal blood flow velocity, higher renal aortic ratio, and longer acceleration time compared with renal arteries with FMD and nonsignificant RAS as well as renal arteries without FMD. CONCLUSIONS In contrast to atherosclerotic RAS, intrarenal blood flow in patients with FMD and RAS is preserved, confirming that renal vasculature is relatively intact in these patients.

Genetic variants in hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease and coexisting atheromatous renal artery stenosis.

BACKGROUND: Atheromatous renal artery stenosis (ARAS) often coexists with coronary artery disease (CAD). This study evaluated the prevalence of three polymorphisms: angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) insertion/deletion (Ins/Del), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) Glu298Asp, and methylenetetrahydrofolate reductase (MTHFR) C677T, in hypertensive patients referred for coronary and renal angiography. MATERIAL/METHODS: The study included 223 hypertensive patients divided into three groups: 72 patients without significant CAD or evidence of ARAS, 111 patients with significant CAD but no ARAS, and 40 patients with coexisting significant CAD and evidence of ARAS. The control group consisted of 195 age- and sex-matched healthy subjects. RESULTS: Patients with coexisting significant CAD and evidence of ARAS were older (p=0.03), less frequently obese (p=0.02), and more likely to have peripheral carotid or femoral artery disease (PAD) (p=0.02) compared with patients with significant CAD but no ARAS. They differed in terms of ACE Del/Del genotype distribution (40% vs. 17.1%, respectively, p=0.007). In a multivariate analysis the independent predictors of ARAS were PAD (OR: 3.7, 95%CI: 1.1-12.3, p=0.005) and ACE Del/Del polymorphism (OR: 3.3, 95%CI: 1.3-8.2, p=0.01). There was a higher prevalence of eNOS Asp/Asp genotype in all patients with significant CAD than in controls (9.3% vs. 3.6%, respectively, p=0.02), but no difference in MTHFR polymorphism between the studied groups was found. CONCLUSIONS: In the hypertensive population referred for coronary and renal angiography, the ACE insertion/deletion variant but not eNOS Glu298Asp or MTHFR C677T polymorphism, seems to coexist with atheromatous renal artery stenosis.

Renal Denervation in Resistant Hypertension and Obstructive Sleep Apnea: Randomized Proof-of-Concept Phase II Trial.

It has been postulated that catheter-based renal denervation (RDN) may lower blood pressure (BP) and improve severity of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) in resistant hypertensive patients. The aim of our study (NCT01366625) was to investigate in a prospective randomized trial the effect of RDN on BP and clinical course of OSA. Sixty patients with true resistant hypertension coexisting with moderate-to-severe OSA (apnea/hypopnea index, ≥15) were randomly allocated to RDN group (30 patients) and to control group (30 patients). The primary end point was reduction in office systolic BP at 3 months. Secondary end points included reduction in diastolic office and ambulatory BP, change in apnea/hypopnea index and biochemical measurements at 3 months, and change in echocardiographic measurements at 6 months. There were no differences in clinical characteristics between the groups. At 3 months in the RDN group, both office and ambulatory BP were significantly reduced, and a significant decrease in OSA severity (apnea/hypopnea index, 39.4 versus 31.2 events per hour; P=0.015) was observed. Between-group difference in apnea/hypopnea index change was significant at 0.05. At 6 months in the RDN group, reductions in office and ambulatory BP were sustained and were accompanied by significant improvement in echocardiographic measures of global longitudinal strain. There were no differences in metabolic variables in follow-up in both groups. In a randomized controlled trial, RDN lowered both office and ambulatory BP in patients with resistant hypertension and OSA. This was accompanied by improvement of the clinical severity of OSA. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION: URL: http://www.clinicaltrials.gov. Unique identifier: NCT01366625.

Echocardiographic assessment of left ventricular morphology and function in patients with fibromuscular dysplasia: the ARCADIA-POL study.

OBJECTIVE: To provide a comprehensive assessment of left ventricle (LV) structure, and function and to detect alterations in cardiac properties in relationship to presence, subtypes and extent of fibromuscular dysplasia (FMD). METHODS: We studied 144 patients with FMD. The control group consisted of 50 matched individuals. Office and ambulatory blood pressure levels were evaluated. Echocardiography was employed to assess: left ventricular mass index (LVMI), systolic function including speckle tracking echocardiography and diastolic function assessed by mitral flow and tissue Doppler imaging. RESULTS: There were no differences in LV morphology and function between patients with FMD and the control group. Among 128 patients with renal FMD, there were no differences in LVMI and LV systolic function between patients with unifocal and multifocal FMD. The patients with multifocal FMD were characterized by lower early diastolic velocity (e') as compared with unifocal FMD and control groups. However, in a multivariate regression model, e' was not independently correlated with FMD. There were no associations between echocardiographic indexes and vascular involvement of FMD. Also, there were no differences in LV morphology and function in patients with significant renal artery stenosis (RAS) compared with patients with history of significant RAS and patients with nonsignificant RAS. CONCLUSION: Our study in contrast to those with atherosclerotic RAS, did not show differences in LV morphology and function between FMD patients and matched controls. Although FMD can result in hypertension and serious vascular complications, there is no proof that it can alter LV regardless of FMD type and its extent.

Cardiovascular risk factors in hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease and coexisting renal artery stenosis.

OBJECTIVE: The aim of our study was to examine the association between the presence of atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis (RAS) and coexisting cardiovascular risk factors in hypertensive patients with coronary artery disease (CAD). METHODS: A total of 333 consecutive hypertensive patients (239 men, 94 women) with CAD underwent clinically indicated non-emergency coronary angiography, followed by renal angiography. Before catheterization clinical examination was performed to determine demographics, cardiac history, known duration of hypertension, cardiovascular risk factors, features of extracoronary vascular disease and related comorbidities. Blood samples for all biochemical evaluations--including highly sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), fibrinogen and homocysteine--were taken. Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), echocardiography and carotid and femoral ultrasound followed by a duplex colour Doppler examination were performed. RESULTS: Significant RAS (> 50% lumen narrowing) was identified in 40 patients (12%) and non-significant RAS (< 50%) was found in 45 (13.5%) subjects. Patients with significant RAS were older (59.8 versus 56.6 years, P < 0.05) and were characterized by higher systolic ambulatory blood pressure level. Patients with RAS had significantly higher levels of creatinine, hsCRP, fibrinogen and homocysteine and lower creatinine clearance than patients without RAS. Multivessel coronary artery disease (MVD) was more frequent in patients with significant RAS. Patients with significant RAS had significantly higher left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and lower ejection fraction (EF) as compared with those without RAS. Patients with RAS were more often characterized by the presence of carotid and femoral artery atherosclerosis and significantly more pronounced increase in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) as compared with non-RAS subjects. In a multivariate stepwise logistic regression model carotid IMT [odds ratio (OR) 1.15; 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.03-1.29, P < 0.05], number of coronary arteries stenosed (OR 1.61; 95% CI 1.01-2.56, P < 0.05), creatinine concentration (for 10 micromol/l increase, OR 1.15; 95% CI 1.04-1.28, P < 0.01), body mass index (BMI) (OR 0.86; 95% CI 0.75-0.97, P < 0.05) and number of antihypertensive drugs (OR 1.76; 95% CI 1.18-2.62, P < 0.05) were independently associated with RAS. The areas under receiver operating characteristic curves for carotid IMT, number of coronary arteries stenosed, creatinine concentration, BMI and number of antihypertensive drugs were 0.749, 0.633, 0.703, 0.350 and 0.677, respectively (P < 0.01 for all values). CONCLUSIONS: In conclusion, renal artery stenosis is prevalent in a significant proportion of patients undergoing cardiac catheterization. Renal angiography should be considered particularly in hypertensive patients with multivessel coronary disease coexisting with cardiovascular risk factors, even moderately impaired renal function and increased carotid IMT or vascular disease elsewhere.

Pulmonary artery dilation indicates severe obstructive sleep apnea in patients with resistant hypertension: the Resist-POL Study.

INTRODUCTION The effect of obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) on right ventricular (RV) function and pulmonary circulation parameters is unclear. OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to determine whether newly diagnosed OSA and its severity has any impact on RV performance and echocardiographic parameters of pulmonary circulation in patients with true resistant hypertension. PATIENTS AND METHODS The study included 155 patients (93 men and 62 women; mean age, 47.5 ±10 years). The apnea-hypopnea index (AHI), end-diastolic and end-systolic area of the right ventricle, main pulmonary artery diameter (MPAd) at diastole, acceleration time (AccT), tricuspid annular systolic velocity wave, and tricuspid annular plane systolic excursion were evaluated. RESULTS Patients were divided into 4 groups: without OSA (AHI <5; n = 43), with mild OSA (AHI = 5-15; n = 45), moderate OSA (AHI = 15-30; n = 27), and severe OSA (AHI >30; n = 40). There were no differences in RV systolic function between the groups. Patients with severe OSA had a wider MPAd (26.0 ±2.6 vs 23.1 ±3.7 mm; P <0.0001) and shorter AccT (114.2 ±15.7 vs 133.4 ±22.1 ms; P <0.001) in comparison with patients without OSA. The cut-off for the best predictive value of severe OSA was an MPAd of 25 mm or higher with a sensitivity of 63.6% and specificity of 78.9%. The area under the receiver operating characteristic curve for severe OSA in relation to an MPAd of 25 mm or higher was 0.766 (95% confidence interval, 0.673-0.859; P <0.0001). Factors independently associated with an MPAd of 25 mm or higher were severe OSA and nighttime diastolic blood pressure levels. CONCLUSIONS Our study showed a relationship between pulmonary artery dilation and the presence of newly diagnosed severe OSA. Among the parameters studied, an MPAd of 25 mm or higher turned out to be the most useful parameter in identifying patients with severe OSA.

Renal resistive index in patients with true resistant hypertension: results from the RESIST-POL study.

BACKGROUND: Increased ultrasound Doppler renal resistive index (RRI) is a marker of atherosclerotic and hypertensive organ damage both at renal and systemic level. AIM: To evaluate RRI in patients with true resistant hypertension (TRHT) in the RESIST-POL study. METHODS: From 204 patients diagnosed with TRHT in the RESIST-POL study, 151 patients (90 male, 61 female, mean age: 47.7 ± 10.4, range: 19-65 years) without secondary hypertension were included into the analysis. All patients were characterised by estimated glomerular filtration rate > 60 mL/min/1.73 m2 and no history of diabetes prior to the study. As a control group we included 50 age- and gender-matched patients (35 male, 15 female, mean age: 46.8 ± 10.4, range: 19-65 years) with primary well-controlled hypertension. The groups also did not differ in respect to the number of years of known history of hypertension. The RRIs were evaluated on the basis of the Doppler ultrasound examination. Increased RRI was defined as ≥ 0.7. RESULTS: Both groups did not differ in terms of renal function. Patients with TRHT were characterised by higher RRI as compared with the group with well-controlled hypertension (0.62 ± 0.05 vs. 0.60 ± 0.05, p < 0.05). In the TRHT group RRI correlated significantly with age, clinic and ambulatory blood pressure measurement, diastolic blood pressure (DBP) levels, as well as with clinic pulse pressure (PP) (r = 0.297; p = 0.001), with daytime (r = 0.355; p < 0.001) and nighttime (r = 0.313; p < 0.001) PP, and with fasting glucose concentration (r = 0.215; p = 0.008) and E/E' ratio (r = 0.289; p = 0.001) on echocardiography. RRI values were significantly higher in TRHT patients with newly diagnosed diabetes as compared with TRHT patients without diabetes (0.65 ± 0.05 vs. 0.62 ± 0.05, p = 0.022). Age, daytime DBP, daytime PP, and E/E' ratio but not fasting glucose concentration correlated independently with RRI in the model. Among patients with TRHT, patients with increased RRI were characterised by older age (52.2 ± 4.9 vs. 47.3 ± 10.6 years, p = 0.012), higher body mass index (32.8 ± 6.0 vs. 29.7 ± 4.5 kg/m2, p = 0.034), as well as lower daytime and nighttime DBP values and lower daytime and nighttime heart rate, as compared to patients with RRI < 0.7. The TRHT patients with increased RRI as compared to patients with RRI < 0.7 were characterised also by higher daytime and nighttime PP. Both groups did not differ in respect of renal function. CONCLUSIONS: Our study showed that the patients with TRHT were characterised by significantly higher RRI values as compared to the subjects with well-controlled hypertension. It may also be suggested that in the subjects with TRHT renal vascular resistance is related to blood pressure values, selected echocardiographic abnormalities, and some surrogate markers for metabolic and cardiovascular events, including fasting glucose plasma concentration and PP, respectively.

Morning blood pressure surge and markers of cardiovascular alterations in untreated middle-aged hypertensive subjects.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the degree of morning blood pressure surge (MBPS) and its relationship with markers of cardiovascular alterations in untreated middle-aged hypertensives. We studied 241 patients (mean age, 36.6 ± 10.7 years). Subjects with higher sleep-through MBPS (st-MBPS) were older (P = .003), had higher carotid intima-media thickness (cIMT) (P = .05) and lower E/A ratio (P = .01) than those with lower MBPS. Subjects with higher prewakening MBPS (pw-MBPS) had significantly higher deceleration time (P = .01) compared with those with lower pw-MBPS. St-MBPS correlated significantly with age, cIMT values, 24-hour systolic and diastolic BP, and systolic BP night-time fall. The significant correlations between pw-MBPS and cIMT values, deceleration time, 24-hour diastolic BP and systolic BP night-time fall were observed. A relationship between MBPS and cardiovascular alterations was observed both in dippers and nondippers, although in non-dippers, it was less pronounced. The results may imply a possible link between MBPS and markers of cardiovascular alterations in untreated hypertensive subjects.

Determinants of concentric left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with resistant hypertension: RESIST-POL study.

Left ventricular hypertrophy, especially concentric hypertrophy, has been shown to be an independent factor of cardiovascular diseases in patients with hypertension. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and/or metabolic syndrome (MS) are common in patients with resistant hypertension (RHTN). The aim of this study was to evaluate factors associated with concentric hypertrophy in patients with RHTN. Data from 155 patients (92M, 63F) was analyzed. All patients underwent a thorough examination including: biochemical evaluations, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, polysomnography and echocardiography. MS was defined by The Adult Treatment Panel III. Clinically significant OSA was defined as apnea/hypopnea index (AHI)>15 events per hour. Left ventricular mass index (LVMI) and relative wall thickness (RWT) were calculated. Four types of LV geometry were distinguished based on the LVMI and RWT. Patients were divided into four groups based on the LV geometric patterns: group 1 (normal geometry) (n=38, 24.4%); group 2 (concentric remodeling) (n=40, 25.8%); group 3 (eccentric hypertrophy) (n=26, 16.8%); and group 4 (concentric hypertrophy) (n=51, 33%). MS was found in 64% and OSA (AHI>15) in 43.2% of patients. Factors independently associated with concentric hypertrophy were: age (OR-1.51; 95% CI-1.00-2.27; P<0.04), OSA>15 events per hour (OR-2.73; 95% CI-1.26-5.93; P=0.01) and nighttime systolic blood pressure (SBP) (OR-1.69; 95% CI-1.32-2.17; P=0.0001). Concentric hypertrophy was the most common type of left ventricular disorder in patients with RHTN. Nighttime SBP and clinically significant OSA were independently associated with concentric hypertrophy in patients with RHTN.

Assessment of adherence to treatment in patients with resistant hypertension using toxicological serum analysis. A subgroup evaluation of the RESIST-POL study.

INTRODUCTION: Nonadherence to antihypertensive therapy is one of the main causes of resistant hypertension. OBJECTIVES: The aim of our study was to evaluate adherence to therapy in patients with resistant hypertension by determining serum antihypertensive drug levels with the use of liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study included 36 patients with primary resistant hypertension selected from the RESIST-POL study (23 men and 13 women; mean age, 52.5 ±9.1 years; range, 22-67 years; mean number of antihypertensive drugs, 5.3 ±1.4), who met all 3 inclusion criteria: use of ≥4 antihypertensive drugs; average daytime ambulatory systolic blood pressure ≥140 mmHg; one of the clinical features suggesting nonadherence. All patients had their serum drug levels assessed using LC-MS/MS. Patients in whom the serum level of at least 1 drug was below the limit of quantification for the method used were regarded as nonadherent. RESULTS: Of all study patients, nonadherence was observed in 31 patients (86.1%), and none of the prescribed drugs was detected (complete nonadherence) in 5 patients (13.9%). In 26 patients (72.2%), at least 1 of the prescribed drugs could not be detected (partial nonadherence). CONCLUSIONS: In our study, we documented a surprisingly low adherence to antihypertensive treatment in patients with resistant hypertension. Our results suggest that, particularly in those patients, the analysis of serum antihypertensive drug levels using LC-MS/MS might allow to avoid a comprehensive and costly diagnostic work-up including biochemical and imaging studies.

Factors associated with diastolic dysfunction in patients with resistant hypertension: resist-POL study.

BACKGROUND: Diastolic dysfunction has been shown to be an independent factor of cardiovascular diseases in patients with hypertension. Very often, obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and metabolic syndrome (MS) coexist with resistant hypertension (RHTN) and may lead to diastolic dysfunction. Thus, the purpose of this study was to investigate whether OSA and MS are associated with diastolic dysfunction in patients with RHTN independently from other factors, including age, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and blood pressure (BP). METHODS: Data from 155 patients (n = 92 men and 63 women) were analyzed. All patients underwent thorough examination, including biochemical evaluations, ambulatory blood pressure monitoring, polysomnography with assessment of apnea/hypopnea index (AHI), and echocardiography. LVMI and diastolic function parameters were obtained. RESULTS: Patients were divided into 2 groups based on the presence or absence of diastolic dysfunction: group 1 (E' < 10cm/second; n=87) and group 2 (E' > 10cm/second; n = 68). AHI, LVMI, and 24-hour systolic BP/diastolic BP values were higher in group 1. E' correlated with AHI (r = -0.25; P < 0.001), LVMI (r = -0.36; P < 0.0001), 24-h systolic BP/24-h diastolic BP (r = -0.28, P < 0.001; r = -0.30, P < 0.001, respectively), glucose level (r = -0.26; P < 0.01), and abdominal obesity (r = -0.28; P < 0.0001). In multivariable models decreased E' was independently related to the presence of MS or abdominal obesity when separate components of MS were included in the model. Age and 24-hour systolic BP were independently associated with decreased E'. However, the relationship of decreased E' with 24-hour systolic BP was nonsignificant if LVMI was included in the multivariable model. CONCLUSIONS: MS and abdominal obesity were independently associated with diastolic dysfunction in patients with RHTN. OSA was not confirmed to be an independent factor of diastolic dysfunction.