CORRELATION ANALYSIS OF CAROTID ATHEROSCLEROTIC PLAQUES AND SERUM MARKERS IN ELDERLY PATIENTS WITH ESSENTIAL HYPERTENSION

Junzhi zhao1, Xiaohua Quan2, *, hong Liu1, Chi Xue1, Jing Liu1

1Ultrasound Medical Department, Affiliated Baoji Hospital of Xi’an Medical University - 2Department of Radiology, Affiliated Baoji Hospital of Xi’an Medical University

In this paper, the relationship between carotid atherosclerosis (CAS) and serum markers in elderly patients with essential hyper- tension (EH) was examined via in-depth research. In this study, 318 elderly EH patients in either our hospital or clinic were selected as the research subjects and were classified as the EH group. All EH patients underwent carotid color ultrasonography and blood biochemical examination and were divided into three groups by their carotid artery plaques (123 cases in the without plaque group, 104 cases in the stable plaque group and 91 cases in the unstable plaque group). Meanwhile, patients who had physical examinations and who were healthy during the same time period comprised the placebo-controlled group (116 cases). The relationships between CAS and serum parameters including fasting plasma glucose (FPG), Hcy, total bilirubin (TBIL), direct bilirubin (DBIL), indirect bilirubin (IBIL), uric acid, ferritin, fibrinogen (Fib) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were investigated. The results showed that the levels of CAS and Hcy in the EH group were significantly higher than those in the control group [61.32% (10.83±2.44 μmol/L) vs 28.45% (7.21±1.16 μmol/L), respectively]; this result showed statistical significance(P value less than 0.01). The incidence of CAS in patients with EH was 61.32%. Compared with the nonplaque group, the parameter values (FPG, TC, TG, LDL-C, Hcy, uric acid, ferritin, Fib, and CRP) were significantly higher in the stable plaque group and the unstable plaque group (P value less than 0.05), and the values of TBIL, DBIL and IBIL were significantly lower than those in the without plaque group (P value less than 0.01). The logistic regression analysis showed that CAS plaques were negatively correlated with TBIL levels and were positively correlated with FPG, TC, LDL-C, Hcy, uric acid, ferritin, Fib, CRP, smoking, diabetes and hypertension (P value less than 0.05). In summary, TBIL and IBIL in serum are protec- tive factors for CAS in elderly EH patients; however, FPG, Hcy, uric acid, ferritin, Fib and CRP are adverse factors.