Relationships of osteoprotegerin with albuminuria and asymmetric dimethylarginine in essential hypertension: integrating vascular dysfunction

Abstract

Objectives: To investigate the inter-relationships of osteoprotegerin (OPG) with albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) and asymmetric dimethylargine (ADMA) in hypertensive patients.

Methods: In 198 untreated non-diabetic hypertensive patients [130 males, mean age = 51.5 years, office blood pressure (BP) = 152/98 mmHg] ACR values and OPG and ADMA levels were determined.

Results: Based on the median value of OPG distribution (5.03 pmol/l) patients with high (n = 101) compared with those with low OPG values (n = 97) had greater 24-h systolic BP (152 ± 5 versus 137 ± 7 mmHg, p < 0.0001), ACR [25.3 (5 – 190) versus 17.3 (5 – 92) mg/g, p = 0.003) and ADMA [0.62 (0.58 – 0.68) versus 0.57 (0.48 – 0.62) μmol/l, p = 0.001), independently of confounding factors. Multiple regression analyses revealed that ADMA (b = 0.388, p < 0.0001), 24-h systolic BP (b = 0.228, p = 0.01) and ACR (b = 0.470, p < 0.0001) were independent predictors of OPG (R² = 0.398, p < 0.0001).

Conclusions: In hypertensive patients, high OPG levels are accompanied by pronounced albuminuria and endothelial dysfunction, as reflected by raised ADMA levels. Furthermore, the independent associations of OPG with ACR and ADMA, suggests a link between OPG and the progression of diffuse hypertensive vascular damage.

Keywords:

• albuminuria
• asymmetric dimethylarginine
• hypertension
• osteoprotegerin