Elevated circulating endothelial microparticles and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity in well-controlled hypertensive patients.

Vascular dysfunction in hypertensive condition is characterized by impaired endothelial function and reduced artery elasticity. Circulating endothelial microparticles (EMPs) and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) are novel evaluation parameters for vascular function. However, their changes in patients with well-controlled blood pressure (BP) have not been fully acquired. To address this issue, circulating EMPs, defined as CD31+/CD42- MPs and baPWV were detected in 30 healthy subjects, 30 uncontrolled hypertensive (UCHT) patients and 23 well-controlled hypertensive (WCHT) patients. UCHT patients displayed elevated baPWV (P<0.01) and circulating EMPs (P<0.01) compared with healthy subjects. In WCHT patients, vascular damage represented by these two parameters constantly existed (P<0.01). Values of circulating EMPs were positively related to baPWV (P<0.01). Multivariate regression defined circulating EMPs as an independent contributor to the increase of baPWV value (P<0.05). Our study indicated that though BP was controlled, impaired endothelial function and arterial elasticity continued. The optimal therapy for patients with hypertension should include not only lowering BP but also improvement of vascular injury in parallel.