Metabolic Syndrome, C-Reactive Protein and Increased Arterial Stiffness in Japanese Subjects

Abstract

The aim of this study was to investigate whether the metabolic syndrome (MS) was associated with an elevated level of C-reactive protein (CRP) and increased arterial stiffness, and to clarify whether combined MS and CRP data had a stronger relation to arterial stiffness than did MS data alone. Brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV), CRP, and conventional risk factors were evaluated in 3,412 men and 854 women. Adjusted mean values of baPWV in men with 0, 1, 2, and > or = 3 components were 1,309, 1,372, 1,422, and 1,462 cm/s, respectively (p for trend <0.001). Adjusted mean values of baPWV in women with 0, 1, 2, and > or =3 components were 1,212, 1,292, 1,357, and 1,391 cm/s, respectively (p for trend <0.001). Adjusted geometric mean concentrations of CRP in men with 0, 1, 2, and > or = 3 components were 0.036, 0.049, 0.059, and 0.076 mg/dI, respectively (p for trend <0.001). Adjusted geometric mean concentrations of CRP in women with 0, 1, 2, and > or = 3 components were 0.023, 0.030, 0.057, and 0.077 mg/dI, respectively (p for trend <0.001). In analyses of adjusted mean values of baPWV according to the number of MS components and according to CRP levels within or without top quartile levels, the p value for the trend was significant (<0.001) in both men and women but, in post hoc analyses, comparing high and low CRP levels in each MS component-number group, no significant difference was found. These results suggest that, for prediction of increased arterial stiffness, combining MS and CRP data has little additive effect compared to the use of MS data alone.

The metabolic syndrome in elderly individuals is associated with greater muscular, but not elastic arterial stiffness, independent of low-grade inflammation, endothelial dysfunction or insulin resistance—The Hoorn Study

“…The association between the MetS and increased muscular arterial stiffness was independent of C-reactive protein and these findings are in line with Saijo et al, 22 who also showed that the association between the MetS and increased arterial stiffness was not mediated by low-grade inflammation as estimated by C-reactive protein. These findings therefore leave room to speculate that perhaps other inflammatory markers may directly mediate the association between the MetS and arterial stiffness (for example, the adipocytokines interleukin-6 or tumour necrosis factor-a).…”

“…These findings therefore leave room to speculate that perhaps other inflammatory markers may directly mediate the association between the MetS and arterial stiffness (for example, the adipocytokines interleukin-6 or tumour necrosis factor-a). 19,22,46 The latter would be in line with our finding that waist circumference, which is a reflection of visceral adiposity, and in turn is an important source of adipocytokines, was among the strongest determinants of increased arterial stiffness. Alternatively, waist circumference is also an important determinant of IR, and in our study, HOMA-IR explained 8-29% of the association between the MetS and femoral arterial stiffness.…”

“…5,[18][19][20] This raises the question whether IR, lowgrade inflammation or ED mediate the association between the MetS and arterial stiffness. 7,[21][22][23] Finally, several studies 13,[24][25][26] suggest that the association with CVD in the MetS may be stronger in women than in men, thus raising the question whether the impact of the MetS on arterial stiffness is also stronger in women than in men. 7,11,27 In view of these considerations, the purpose of this study was: (1) to examine in a population-based cohort of elderly individuals the association(s) between the MetS and arterial stiffness of both elastic and muscular arteries; (2) to examine whether any such associations were mediated by low-grade inflammation, IR or ED; and (3) to examine whether any association between the MetS and arterial stiffness is stronger in women than in men.…”

A Newly Estimated Glomerular Filtration Rate Is Independently Associated with Arterial Stiffness in Japanese Patients

“…Body weight and height were measured during the examination in light indoor clothing without shoes. baPWV, ABI, heart rate (HR), and blood pressure (BP) were measured with a pulse pressure analyzer (model: BP-203RPE II; Nihon Colin, Tokyo, Japan) as described previously (13,14). PWV was expressed in cm/s.…”

“…Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is known to be an indicator of arterial stiffness (9,10), and an independent predictor of cardiovascular events in patients with end-stage renal disease (11,12). A simple and noninvasive method to automatically measure brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV) was recently developed to screen large populations (13,14). In several reports that included patients with different stages of CKD, PWV increased proportionally to decreased estimated GFR (eGFR) or creatinine clearance (15)(16)(17).…”