Aim: Hypertension is a complex condition, and it is difficult to know whether inflammation is a cause or an effect. Information on the association between MRP-8/14 (myeloid-related protein) and hypertension is limited. In this study, we aimed to examine the relationship of MRP-8/14 with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) and albuminuria in hypertensive patients and to investigate whether early assay of MRP-8/14 levels could be helpful in assessment of renal damage and carotid atherosclerosis among hypertensive patients.
Materials and methods: 61 hypertensive patients and 40 age-, gender-, and body mass index-matched controls were included into the study. Blood samples including fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, triglycerides, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, total protein, albumin, urea creatinine, uric acid, sedimentation, C-reactive protein (CRP), and MRP-8/14 were collected. 24-hour urine albumin excretion and CIMT measurements were also obtained.
Results: All inflammatory variables including uric acid, CRP, sedimentation, MRP-8/14, and CIMT were statistically higher in patients with hypertension than in controls. MRP-8/14 was significantly higher in hypertensive patients with macroalbuminuria than in controls (339.3 (IQR (215.2 - 661.7)) ng/mL vs. 204.9 (IQR (140.1 - 339.3)) -ng/mL, p = 0.005, respectively). The levels of CIMT were the highest in macroalbuminuric hypertensive patients (controls vs. normoalbuminuria, microalbuminuria, macroalbuminuria groups, 0.57 (0.53 - 0.67) mm vs. 0.84 (0.76 - 0.89) mm, p = 0.000; 0.57 (0.53 - 0.67) mm vs. 0.87 (0.67 - 0.93) mm, p = 0.000; 0.57 (0.53 - 0.67) mm vs. 0.92 (0.85 - 0.97) mm, p = 0.000, respectively).
Conclusion: Plasma MRP-8/14 levels were elevated in hypertensive patients with macroalbuminuria, however, it could not serve as an early marker to determine renal damage and carotid atherosclerosis in patients with hypertension. .