systemic hypertension | Acta Medica Marisiensis

Objective: Our study aimed to validate the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) as a marker for aortic arch calcification in hypertensive patients with less advanced chronic kidney disease (CKD).
Methods: A number of forty-four hypertensive patients with chronic kidney disease (categories G3a and G3b – 2012 KDIGO nomenclature) were included in the study. Considering the presence of aortic arch calcification (AAC) on chest X-ray, the study population was divided into two groups: 27 patients AAC present and seventeen without aortic arch calcification. Laboratory data were collected for each patient and NLR was computed. Comorbidities were also recorded: stable coronary artery disease, lower extremity arterial disease and hypertensive heart disease.
Results: A positive correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and aortic arch calcification in hypertensive CKD patients was identified. Furthermore, advanced age, increased alkaline phosphatase and increased erythrocyte sedimentation rate had a positive association with aortic arch calcification. We found no statistical correlation between neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio and other laboratory features in both groups of patients.
Conclusions: Neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio may be viewed as a potential risk factor for vascular calcification in patients with moderate chronic kidney disease; nevertheless, future extensive studies are necessary. In the management of hypertensive patients, general medicine might particularly benefit of this simple, readily available inflammatory marker.

Clinical Conditions and Predictive Markers of Non-Dipper Profile in Hypertensive Patients

Ioan Tilea¹, Dorina Petra², Elena Ardeleanu³, Adina Hutanu⁴, Andreea Varga¹

1. Family Medicine, Dept. M3 – Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tirgu Mures, Romania
2. Internal Medicine I, Dept. M3 – Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tirgu Mures, Romania
3. Family Medicine, Dept. XVI – Balneology, Medical Rehabilitation and Rheumatology, Faculty of Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy “Victor Babes” Timisoara, Romania
4. CCAMF, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tîrgu Mureș, Romania Department of Laboratory Medicine, University of Medicine and Pharmacy Tîrgu Mureș, Romania

DOI: 10.2478/amma-2018-0006

Hypertension remains one of the primary causes of premature cardiovascular mortality representing a major independent risk factor. The importance of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring in clinical evaluation of hypertensive patients, beyond diagnosis, is the identification of circadian dipping/non-dipping profile. The non-dipper pattern in hypertensive and normotensive patients is associated with significant target organ damage and worse outcomes, as an increased cardiovascular risk condition. Non-dipping pattern has been found to be associated with specific clinical conditions. Obesity, diabetes mellitus, metabolic syndrome, obstructive sleep apnea syndrome, chronic kidney disease, autonomic and baroreflex dysfunctions, salt sensitivity, hormonal changes, gender and age were extensively studied. Research efforts are focused on recognizing and exploring predictive markers of abnormal blood pressure circadian pattern. Previous studies acknowledge that red cell distribution width, mean platelet volume, fibrinogen level, C-reactive protein, serum uric acid and gamma-glutamyltransferase, are independently significant and positive associated to non-dipping pattern. Moreover, research on new biomarkers are conducted: Chitinase 3-Like-Protein 1, atrial and B-type natriuretic peptide, brain-derived neurotrophic factor, chemerin, sphingomyelin and the G972R polymorphism of the insulin receptor substrate-1 gene. This review summarizes the current knowledge of different clinical conditions and biomarkers associated with the non-dipper profile in hypertensive patients.