Baris Ilerigelen

Effect of irbesartan monotherapy compared with ACE inhibitors and calcium-channel blockers on patient compliance in essential hypertension patients: a multicenter, open-labeled, three-armed study.

Objectives. This multicenter, three‐armed, open‐labeled study investigated patient compliance of patients receiving irbesartan, angiotensin‐converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors or calcium‐channel blockers (CCB) for essential hypertension for a 6‐month period. Patients were either newly diagnosed or switched from existing antihypertensive medication due to lack of efficacy or side‐effects. Methods. Patients were started monotherapy with irbesartan (n = 377), ACE inhibitors (n = 298) or CCB (n = 308) and were reevaluated on 1st, 3rd, and 6th months of the treatment. The primary endpoint was patient compliance, assessed by proportion of patients who had taken their study medication every day. Efficacy was recorded as mean reductions in blood pressure and the proportion of patients whose blood pressure normalized. Tolerability was assessed by reported adverse events. Results. Significantly more patients receiving irbesartan had complied with study medication after 3 and 6 months of treatment than ACE inhibitors or CCB. Significantly fewer patients receiving irbesartan needed to change their antihypertensive medication. All three study treatments exhibited similar efficacy profiles, but irbesartan had significantly less adverse events. Conclusions. This study demonstrated that patient compliance to irbesartan was significantly superior to other study treatments. Irbesartan is therefore a suitable first‐line therapy for essential hypertension in everyday clinical practice.

Impact of dyslipidemia on cardiovascular risk stratification of hypertensive patients and association of lipid profile with other cardiovascular risk factors: results from the ICEBERG study

Background: Hypertension, dyslipidemia, and other cardiovascular risk factors are linked epidemiologically, clinically, and metabolically. Intensive/Initial Cardiovascular Examination regarding Blood Pressure levels, Evaluation of Risk Groups (ICEBERG) study focuses on the effect of dyslipidemia on cardiovascular risk evaluation and association of lipid profile with other risk factors. Patients and methods: The ICEBERG study consisted of two sub-protocols: ICEBERG-1, conducted at 20 university hospitals (Referral Group) and ICEBERG-2, conducted at 197 primary healthcare centers (Primary Care Group). Sub-protocol had two patient profiles: patients previously diagnosed with essential hypertension and under medical treatment (Treated Group) and patients with systolic blood pressure ≥130 mmHg or diastolic blood pressure ≥85 mmHg, with no antihypertensive treatment for at least 3 months before inclusion (Untreated Group). Dyslipidemia was evaluated and cardiovascular risk stratification was performed according to ESC/ESH guidelines. Results: More than half of the treated and untreated subjects were classified into high or very high cardiovascular risk groups. In a total of 1817 patients, the percentage of patients in “high” plus “very high” added risk groups increased to 55.2% in Treated Referral Group (p < 0.001), to 62.6% in Untreated Referral Group (p = 0.25) and to 60.7% in Untreated Primary Care Group (p < 0.001), by re-evaluation of patients’ lipid values. Conclusions: Serum lipid levels are useful in stratifying hypertensive patients into cardiovascular risk groups more accurately, for appropriate antihypertensive treatment.

The association of MDR1 C3435T and G2677T/A polymorphisms with plasma platelet-activating factor levels and coronary artery disease risk in Turkish population

Increased levels of peripheral proinflammatory mediators can contribute to the development of coronary artery disease (CAD). Platelet activating factor (PAF) is an important proinflammatory mediator and plasma levels of PAF correlate with transmembrane transporter multidrug resistant 1 P-glycoprotein (MDR1 Pgp) expression and activity. MDR1 polymorphisms can affect the expression and activity of Pgp and plasma PAF levels. Therefore, we investigated the possible relationship between MDR1 C3435T and G2677T/A polymorphisms and plasma PAF levels and the risk of CAD. The study population consisted of 198 patients angiographically documented CAD, including 113 cases with at least 1 coronary artery with ≥50% luminal diameter stenosis and 85 control subjects with strictly normal coronary angiograms. Genotypes of the MDR1 C3435T and G2677T/A polymorphisms were determined by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP). Plasma PAF levels were detected by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). There were no significant differences among plasma PAF levels in regard to MDR1 C3435T and G2677T polymorphisms in CAD patients and controls. No statistically significant difference was found for the genotypic and allelic distributions of the polymorphisms in the MDR1 gene between the patients and the control subjects. Furthermore, analysis of MDR1 haplotypes did not show any associations with increased plasma PAF levels and risk of CAD. Our results suggest that plasma PAF levels are not associated with MDR1 gene polymorphisms. There is no association between MDR1 C3435T and G2677T/A polymorphisms and the risk of CAD in Turkish patients.

The Impact of Plasma High‐Sensitivity C‐Reactive Protein Levels on Cardiovascular Risk Stratification of Hypertensive Patients: Results of the ICEBERG Study

The Intensive/Initial Cardiovascular Examination Regarding Blood Pressure Levels: Evaluation of Risk Groups (ICEBERG) study focused on the impact of high‐sensitivity C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) measurement on cardiovascular risk evaluation. The ICEBERG study comprised 2 subprotocols. Each subprotocol had 2 patient profiles: patients previously diagnosed with essential hypertension and under medical treatment and patients with systolic blood pressure 130 mm Hg or higher, or diastolic blood pressure 85 mm Hg or higher, with no treatment for at least 3 months before inclusion. Measurement of hs‐CRP and cardiovascular risk stratification were performed according to European Society of Hypertension/European Society of Cardiology (ESH/ESC) guidelines. A total of 1817 patients were analyzed. In 1 group, the percentage of patients in “high” plus “very high” added‐risk groups increased from 59.2% to 72.7% when hs‐CRP data were added to routine serum biochemistries. In another, the increase was from 66.9% to 77.9%, whereas in a third group, it changed from 65.1% to 77.2%. The use of plasma hs‐CRP levels might help in stratifying hypertensive patients into specific risk groups and modifying preventive approaches.

Endothelial Dysfunction Markers in Low Cardiovascular Risk Individuals: Comparison of Males and Females

Summary Background: Cardiovascular diseases (CVD) account for approximately 50% of the total deaths in Turkey. Most of them are related with atherosclerotic coronary heart disease. Predictive value of endothelial dysfunction markers related with the earliest stage of atherosclerosis has been getting more attention. We hypothesized that differences in endothelial dysfunction biochemical markers among genders would aid to capture proatherogenic activity that was not diagnosed by conventional risk assessment scoring systems. Methods: We assessed the endothelial dysfuntion markers in 92 Turkish adults who were in the »low CV risk group« according to ESC (European Society of Cardiology)-Score Risk Charts. We compared the males and females. Results: We observed higher endothelial dysfunction rates in males, with higher median and mean levels of e-NOS, ox-LDL before and after adjustment for HDL lowness and obesity (P=0.018, P=0.036 for NOS; P=0.000, P=0.004 for ox-LDL, respectively). Men had higher hs-CRP levels than females before adjustment (P=0.021). Decreased e-NOS levels were related with FMD for females before adjustment for confounders (P=0.028). We also found significant correlation between e-NOS and ox-LDL levels both before (r=0.360, P<0.001) and after adjustment (r=0.366, P<0.01) for confounders which pointed out the nitrosative stress. In multivariate regression analyses, after adjusting for other endothelial dysfunction markers which were not included in the ESC-risk scoring system, decreased e-NOS levels were independently asssociated with impaired flow mediated dilatation for females (odds ratio 0.3; P=0.038). Conclusions: Our results underline the importance of gender in evaluating endothelial dysfunction biochemical markers to assess cardiovascular risk for low CV risk indivuals.

Intensive Cardiovascular Examination regarding Blood pressure levels: Evaluation of Risk Groups. ICEBERG study

Objective. Assessment of total cardiovascular risk level is crucial for approaching hypertensive patients. Therefore, the aim of the Intensive/Initial Cardiovascular Examination regarding Blood pressure levels: Evaluation of Risk Groups (ICEBERG) study is to determine cardiovascular risk evaluation and stratification of subjects with high normal and high blood pressure (BP⩾130/85 mmHg), and to evaluate the impact of laboratory tests on this stratification. Methods. ICEBERG was an epidemiological study conducted at 20 university hospitals and 197 primary healthcare centers. A total of 10,313 patients, who were diagnosed with high BP and under antihypertensive treatment or not antihypertensive under treatment at least for the last 3 months were selected. Besides routine clinical evaluation, microalbuminuria (MAU) and high sensitive C‐reactive protein (hs‐CRP) tests, echocardiography (Echo) and carotid ultrasonography (USG) were performed in selected arms. The patients were stratified into low, moderate, high and very high added risk groups as described by the European Society of Hypertension/European Society of Cardiology Guidelines Committee (2003). Results. Upon routine evaluation, the percentage of “high and very high added cardiovascular risk” groups was between 51.2% and 60.7% in different study arms. This percentage increased to 62.9% by subsequent serum biochemistry assessment and to 76.2% by hs‐CRP test results. Switching upwards to “high and very high added risk” groups was around 6% when MAU results were used, with a 4.9% upwards switch to “high and very high added risk” groups when Echo was performed; this proportion increased by 6.8%, when carotid USG was taken into account. Conclusion. Cardiovascular risk evaluation by intensive cardiovascular examination including Echo and carotid USG provided more accurate risk stratification. Furthermore, a simple test to demonstrate presence of MAU usable at primary healthcare level will also help to evaluate the patients risk profile better than routine assessment methods alone.

Relation of Biochemical Parameters with Flow-mediated Dilatation in Patients with Metabolic Syndrome

Background: Metabolic syndrome (MetS) is one of the high cardiovascular (CV) situations. Endothelial dysfunction, which is a common finding in patients with MetS, is related with increased CV risk. In patients with MetS, the effect of the major CV risk factors, not included in the MetS definition, on endothelial dysfunction is not well known. The aim of this study was to determine the effect of major CV risk factors such as gender, smoking, family history, and biochemical parameters on endothelial dysfunction in patients with MetS. Methods: The study was performed between December 2010 and August 2014. A total of 55 patients (15 females and 40 males) with MetS and 81 healthy controls (37 females and 44 males) with a body mass index <25 kg/m2 were enrolled in the study. Endothelial dysfunction was measured by flow-mediated dilatation (FMD), oxidative stress parameters; high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP), oxidized low-density lipoprotein (ox-LDL), endothelial nitric oxide synthase (e-NOS), nitric oxide, and cell adhesion markers; von Willebrand factor, and e-selectin. Platelet aggregation (endothelial adenosine diphosphate), total platelet count, and mean platelet volume were additionally analyzed and demographic parameters were explored. Students t-test, Mann-Whitney U-test, and Chi-square test were used to analyze the results. Results: The fasting blood glucose (z = 3.52, P = 0.001), hs-CRP (z = 3.23, P = 0.004), ox-LDL (z = 2.62, P = 0.013), and e-NOS (z = 2.22, P = 0.026) levels and cardiac risk score (z = 5.23, P < 0.001) were significantly higher in patients with MetS compared with the control group. Smoking was correlated with decreased FMD (&khgr;2 = 9.26, P = 0.002) in MetS patients but not in the control group. Conclusions: Increased ox-LDL, hs-CRP, and e-NOS are likely to be a result of oxidative stress, a condition in which an imbalance occurs between the production and inactivation of reactive nitrogen and oxygen species. In addition, in patients with MetS, smoking is independently related to endothelial dysfunction.

Comparison of exercise treadmill test, flow mediated dilatation, and inflammation in individuals with low risk of adverse cardiovascular events

Abstract Background The relationship between endothelial dysfunction, a risk factor for coronary artery disease, and the incidence of cardiovascular disease (CVD) in the general population is not well known. Objectives To determine the utility of an exercise treadmill test (ETT) combined with inflammatory markers to show endothelial dysfunction for individuals with a low risk of adverse cardiovascular (CV) events. Methods Biomarkers of inflammation (lipoprotein-related phospholipase A2 (Lp-PLA2) and high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP)) and biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction (nitric oxide, oxidized low-density lipoprotein (Ox-LDL), and sialic acid) were assessed in 60 apparently healthy patients with a positive (+) or negative (−) ETT and across endothelial function assessed by flow mediated dilatation (FMD) and Lp-PLA2 tertiles. Results Lp-PLA2 levels were increased in ETT (−) compared with ETT (+) patients. Half of ETT (−) patients were found to have levels of Lp-PLA2 in the highest tertile. There was a significant inverse relationship between ETT and inflammatory biomarkers when adjusted for age, Lp-PLA2 (r = −0.28, P = 0.04), or hs-CRP (r = −0.35, P = 0.01). No differences were found for biomarkers of endothelial dysfunction. All variables were reassessed across FMD tertiles. Total lipids, Ox-LDL, triglyceride, and Lp-PLA2 were higher for the lowest FMD tertile. Conclusion The elevation of Lp-PLA2 in ETT (−) patients and the inverse relationship with inflammatory biomarkers, suggest that ETT cannot address endothelial dysfunction for individuals with apparently low risk of adverse CV events, and cannot be used for risk stratification of the general population.

P-384: The impact of echocardiography and carotid ultrasonography on risk evaluation in people with high-normal and high blood pressure: Results from ICEBERG study

THE IMPACT OF ECHOCARDIOGRAPHY AND CAROTID ULTRASONOGRAPHY ON RISK EVALUATION IN PEOPLE WITH HIGH-NORMAL AND HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE: RESULTS FROM ICEBERG STUDY Baris Ilerigelen, Giray Kabakci, Omer Kozan, Nevrez Koylan, Kemalettin Buyukozturk, Mehmet Kanbolat, Sarper Toker. Cardiology Dept, Istanbul Univ, Cerrahpasa, Istanbul, Turkey; Cardiology Dept, Hacettepe Univ, Ankara, Turkey; Cardiology Dept, Dokuz Eylul Univ, Izmir, Turkey; Cardiology Dept, Istanbul Univ, Capa, Istanbul, Turkey; Lamartin Cad, No 49/3 Taksim, Istanbul, Turkey; Medical Dept, Sanofi-Aventis, Istanbul, Turkey.