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Serum uric acid is associated with microvascular function in hypertensive individuals

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 21, pages 610–615 (2007)Cite this article

Abstract

We investigated the relationship of serum uric acid (UA) with resting forearm blood flow (FBF), reactive hyperaemia (RH) and flow-mediated dilation (FMD) of the brachial artery in hypertensive adults (n=506, mean age 62 years, 59% women). UA was measured by a colorimetric method. FBF, RH and FMD were measured by brachial artery ultrasound. Regression analyses were used to assess whether UA was associated with FBF, RH and FMD before and after adjustment for age, sex, systolic BP, diabetes, total and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, smoking, body mass index (BMI), C-reactive protein (CRP), serum creatinine, alcohol intake, statin and diuretic use and brachial artery diameter (BAD). UA was significantly associated with FBF (P<0.0001) and RH (P=0.0001) but not with FMD (P=0.43). After adjustment for the covariates listed above, higher UA level remained independently associated with a higher FBF (P=0.012) and lower RH (P=0.004). The independent predictors were as follows: (a) higher FBF: lower age, higher BMI, history of smoking, statin use, higher CRP, higher BAD and higher UA levels; (b) lower RH: higher BMI, diabetes and higher UA levels; (c) lower FMD: greater age, male sex, higher BMI, history of smoking, statin use and higher BAD. We conclude that in hypertensive individuals, higher UA levels are associated with higher resting FBF and lower RH, markers of microvascular function, but not with brachial artery FMD.

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Acknowledgements

This work was supported by: Grants HL81331 and M01 RR00585 from The National Institute of Health.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine, Mayo Clinic Foundation, Rochester, MN, USA

    T de A Coutinho

  2. Division of Nephrology and Hypertension, Mayo Clinic Foundation, Rochester, MN, USA

    S T Turner

  3. Division of Cardiovascular Diseases, Mayo Clinic Foundation, Rochester, MN, USA

    I J Kullo

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Correspondence to I J Kullo.

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de A Coutinho, T., Turner, S. & Kullo, I. Serum uric acid is associated with microvascular function in hypertensive individuals. J Hum Hypertens 21, 610–615 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1002193

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