Duprez DA, et al. - Given that procollagen type III N-terminal propeptide (PIIINP) and collagen type I carboxy-terminal telopeptide (ICTP) play important roles in extracellular matrix (ECM) remodeling, and vascular remodeling related to increased extracellular matrix ECM may precede hypertension, researchers investigated whether incident hypertension is predicted by PIIINP and ICTP among normotensives. They found that the development of hypertension was forecast by biomarkers of ECM remodeling in normotensive participants free of evident cardiovascular diseases (CVD).

Methods

• Participants were 1,252 Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis participants with mean age 58.1 ± 12.4 years, 48% men, free of evident CVD, having SBP and DBP less than 130/85 mmHg and not using any antihypertensive medication, and having plasma PIIINP and ICTP measurements, all evaluated at baseline.
• Researchers assessed the association of baseline PIIINP and ICTP with the relative incidence density (RID) of incident hypertension, which was defined as SBP/DBP at least 140/90 mmHg or antihypertensive therapy use during follow-up (four examinations over median 9.4 years).

Results

• According to data, the mean SBP/DBP at baseline was 110.9 ± 14.0/67.9 ± 10.4 mmHg and the mean concentration of PIIINP was 5.39 ± 1.95 μg/l and ICTP was 3.18 ± 1.39 mu;g/l.
• Development of hypertension was reported in 35.9% of the participants during follow-up.
• A significant RID for new onset of hypertension of 1.16 (1.06, 1.28), P=0.0017 for PIIINP and 1.20 (1.08,1.33) for ICTP, P=0.0008 was noted after adjustment for age, race, and sex.
• As per the observations, RID for new onset hypertension was 1.28 (1.15,1.42), P < 0.001 for PIIINP and 1.29 (1.15,1.44) for ICTP, P < 0.0001 following additional adjustment for renal function, CVD risk factors and inflammatory variables.