CYBA C242T polymorphism is associated with obesity and diabetes mellitus in Brazilian hypertensive patients.

AIMS: The CYBA C242T polymorphism has been associated with cardiovascular phenotypes such as hypertension and atherosclerosis, but available data are conflicting. This report investigated the impact of this variant on hypertension and metabolic determinants of cardiovascular risk in a large Brazilian sample. METHODS: We cross-sectionally evaluated 1856 subjects (826 normotensive subjects and 1030 hypertensive patients) by clinical history, anthropometry, laboratory analysis and genotyping of the CYBA C242T polymorphism. RESULTS: Genotype frequencies in the whole population were consistent with the Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium and genotype distributions were not different between hypertensive and normotensive subjects. Hypertensive patients with the CC genotype presented lower fasting plasma glucose levels (5.9 ± 0.1 vs. 6.2 ± 0.1 mmol/l, P = 0.020) and waist circumference (94.5 ± 0.6 vs. 96.3 ± 0.6 cm, P = 0.028) than CT + TT ones. Similarly, the prevalence of diabetes mellitus and obesity was also lower in hypertensive patients carrying the CC genotype (16% vs. 21%, P = 0.041; 36% vs. 43%, P = 0.029, respectively). In addition, multiple and logistic regression analysis demonstrated that the CYBA C242T polymorphism was associated with glucose levels, waist circumference, obesity and diabetes mellitus in hypertensive patients independently of potential confounders. Conversely, in normotensive subjects, no significant difference in studied variables was detected between the genotype groups. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that the T allele of the CYBA C242T polymorphism may be used as a marker for adverse metabolic features in Brazilian subjects with systemic hypertension.

Common matrix metalloproteinase 2 gene haplotypes may modulate left ventricular remodelling in hypertensive patients.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are involved in cardiac remodelling. We examined whether MMP-2 genetic polymorphisms are associated with hypertension and left ventricular (LV) remodelling in hypertensive patients. We studied 160 hypertensive patients and 123 healthy controls. Echocardiography was performed in all patients and the C(-1306)T (rs243865) and C(-735)T (rs 2285053) MMP-2 polymorphisms were analysed. Haplo.stats analysis was used to evaluate whether MMP-2 haplotypes are associated with hypertension and with extremes in LV mass index (LVMI). Multiple linear regression analysis was performed to assess whether MMP-2 genotypes or haplotypes affect LVMI and other echocardiography parameters. The C(-1306)T 'CC' genotype was associated with reduced LVMI and LV end-diastolic diameter (EDD) (P=0.0365 and P=0.0438, respectively). The haplotype 'C, C' was associated with reduced LVMI and EDD (P=0.0278 and P=0.0322, respectively). The comparison of upper and lower extremes of the LVMI phenotype showed that the 'C, C' haplotype was more common in the lower LVMI group (P=0.0060), whereas the 'T, C' haplotype was more common in the higher quartile of LVMI (P=0.0187), and this haplotype was associated with increased risk of higher LVMI values (odds ratio=3.5121, 95% confidence interval=1.3193-9.3494). The findings suggest that MMP-2 polymorphisms affect hypertension-induced LV remodelling.

Mannose-binding lectin (MBL2) polymorphisms and inflammation in hypertensive patients.

We investigated the possible role of Mannose binding lectin 2 (MBL2) functional polymorphisms in the prevalence of hypertension and hypertensive end-organ damage in 300 hypertensive patients and 313 normotensive individuals from Southern Brazil. Hypertensive subjects with MBL2 AO/OO genotypes presented lower C-reactive protein levels than AA individuals and consequently lower inflammatory status.

Hip circumference is associated with high density lipoprotein cholesterol response following statin therapy in hypertensive subjects.

AIM: This report investigated the relationship between anthropometric measurements of body fat distribution and lipid response to statins in hypercholesterolemic hypertensive patients. METHODS: We prospectively examined 129 subjects who used either simvastatin 20 mg/day (no.=83) or atorvastatin 10 mg/day (no.=46) for 3 months. Anthropometry included evaluation of body mass index, waist and hip circumferences, and waist-to-hip-ratio. RESULTS: Significant decreases in LDL (p<0.001), total cholesterol (p<0.001), and triglycerides (p=0.04) levels were detected after 3 months of therapy in the whole sample. At baseline, only an inverse correlation between waist circumference and HDLcholesterol levels was detected (r=-0.18; p=0.04). Conversely, a direct relationship between hip circumference and HDLcholesterol response to statins was found in the whole sample (r=0.24; p=0.006), while no other anthropometric measurement displayed significant correlation with lipid changes. The association between HDL-cholesterol response and hip circumference was further confirmed by stepwise regression analysis adjusted for baseline HDL-cholesterol levels, metabolic syndrome, body mass index, and waist circumference. CONCLUSIONS: Hip circumference, a surrogate marker of peripheral adiposity, is associated with HDL-cholesterol changes following statin therapy in hypertensive patients.