Xuezhikang reduced arterial stiffness in patients with essential hypertension: a preliminary study

This study aimed to test the effects of xuezhikang, a cholestin extract that contains statin-like components, on arterial stiffness in patients with essential hypertension. One hundred hypertensive patients from the Chinese PLA General Hospital were randomly allocated to receive xuezhikang (1200 mg/day, orally) or placebo (same capsules containing only pharmaceutical excipients). Physical examination outcomes, lipid profile, high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, matrix metalloproteinases-9 (MMP-9) levels, and arterial outcomes, including stiffness parameter (β), pressure-strain elasticity modulus (Ep), arterial compliance (AC), augmentation index (AI), and one-point pulse wave velocity (PWVβ) were obtained at baseline and after 6 months of the intervention. Xuezhikang significantly reduced β (8.4±3.1 vs 6.8±2.1, P=0.007), Ep (122.8±43.9 vs 100.7±33.2, P=0.009), PWVβ (6.7±1.2 vs 6.1±1.0, P=0.013), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (3.4±0.6 vs 2.9±0.5, P=0.001), hs-CRP [2.1 (0.4-10.0) vs 1.4 (0.3-4.1), P=0.020], and MMP-9 (17.2±2.4 vs 12.7±3.8, P <0.001) compared to baseline. The placebo had no effect on these parameters. The changes of PWVβ in the xuezhikang group was significantly associated with the changes of hs-CRP and MMP-9 (r=0.144, P=0.043; r=0.278, P=0.030, respectively) but not with lipid profile changes. Our research showed xuezhikang can improve the parameters of arterial stiffness in hypertensive patients, and its effect was independent of lipid lowering.

Testosterona séiica en trastornos hipertensivos del embarazo / Serum testosterone in hypertensive disorders of pregnancy

OBJETIVO: Se ha comunicado asociación de hiperandrogenemia y preeclampsia; además de confirmarlo se pretende dilucidar si también hay esa asociación con embarazadas con hipertensión arterial crónica esencial (HACE). MÉTODOS: 45 mujeres con gestación de tercer trimestre separadas en 3 grupos: 1) 15 normotensas, 2) 16 preeclámpticas, 3) 14 HACE. Se registró edad, paridad, índice de masa corporal (IMC), presión arterial sistólica y diastólica (mm de Hg), proteinuria en 24 horas, semanas de gestación, y niveles séricos de testosterona total (Tt), RIA de testosterona libre (Tl), proteína ligante sexual (SHBG), índice de andrógenos libres (IAL). RESULTADOS: Los 3 grupos estudiados, normotensas, preeclámpticas y HACE, presentaron los siguientes valores séricos, respectivamente: Tt (nmol/L) 2,3±1,4; 5,2±3,0; 1,9±1,5 (p=0,001). IAL (pmol/L) 0,5±0,3; 1,1±0,9; 0,4±0,2 (p=0,001). No hubo diferencias significativas en Tl (pmol/L) 7,2±4,7; 7,39±4,5; 4,5±2,6; ni en SHBG (nmol/L) 468±112; 503±134; 512±96. CONCLUSIONES: Las embarazadas con HACE presentaron niveles séricos de Tt y de IAL similares a las embarazadas normotensas. En cambio, las mujeres con preeclampsia presentaron niveles de Tt sérica e IAL claramente aumentados en comparación con las embarazadas normotensas. Se concluye que existiría una asociación de hiperandrogenemia con preeclampsia; asociación que no fue encontrada en embarazadas con HACE.

OBJECTIVE: Association between hyperandrogenemia and preeclampsia was communicated. This study was designed to explain if also there is association between hyperandrogenemia and pregnant with essential chronic arterial hypertension (HACE). METHODS: To 45 women with gestation of third trimester were separated in 3 groups: 1) normal arterial pressure (n=15), 2) preeclampsia (n=16), 3) HACE (n=14). It was registered age, parity, body mass index (IMC), systolic and diastolic arterial pressure (mm of Hg), proteinuria in 24 h, weeks of gestation, and seric level of total testosterone (Tt), free testosterone (Tl), free androgen index (IAL). RESULTS: The studied groups, normal arterial pressure, preeclampsia, and HACE, displayed the following serics values, respectively: Tt (nmol/L) 2.3±1.4; 5.2±3.0; 1.9±1.5; (p=0.001). IAL (pmol/L) 0.5±0.3; 1.1±0.9; 0.4±0.2; (p=0.001). Not significant differences were found in: Tl (pmol/L) 7.2±4.7; 7.4±4.5; 4.5±2.6. SHBG (nmol/L) 468±112; 503±134; 512±96. CONCLUSIONS: The pregnant women with HACE presented similar seric level of T than pregnant women with normal arterial pressure. However, the women with preeclampsia displayed significant increased levels of seric Tt and increased IAL. We conclude that the association observed of hyperandrogenemia with preeclampsia was not found in pregnant with HACE.