Evaluation of osteoprotegerin level and selected inflammatory markers in patients with essential hypertension

Abstract

Background Recent studies suggest that serum osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels increase in association with coronary artery calcification, coronary artery disease, stroke and future cardiovascular events. The aim of this study was to determine serum OPG levels and to investigate the relationship between OPG and selected inflammatory markers in hypertensive patients.
Material and methods Thirty patients with hypertension were studied. As a control 10 healthy volunteers were used. Physical examination was performed. Plasma OPG concentrations (OPG, enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay), high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP, turbidimetry method) and tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α, radioimmunoassay) were determined.
Results The levels of plasma OPG, hsCRP and TNF-α significantly exceeded those observed in the control group (p < 0.05). Positive correlation between OPG and TNF-α (p < 0.05) was found.
Conclusions Hypertension is characterized by increased inflammatory process. The association of elevated OPG with TNF-α may provide a mechanistic link between coronary artery calcification, atherosclerosis progression and inflammation in this group of patients.
Arterial Hypertension 2010, vol. 14, no 5, pages 375-380.