@article{3061784,
    title = "Relationships of osteoprotegerin with albuminuria and asymmetric dimethylarginine in essential hypertension: Integrating vascular dysfunction",
    author = "Tsioufis, C. and Aggelis, A. and Dimitriadis, K. and Thomopoulos, C. and Kasiakogias, A. and Tzamou, V. and Kyvelou, S.-M. and Mikhailidis, D.P. and Papademetriou, V. and Stefanadis, C.",
    journal = "Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets",
    year = "2011",
    volume = "15",
    number = "12",
    pages = "1347-1353",
    publisher = "Informa Healthcare",
    issn = "1472-8222, 1744-7631",
    doi = "10.1517/14728222.2011.642868",
    keywords = "albumin;  creatinine;  n(g),n(g) dimethylarginine;  osteoprotegerin, adult;  albuminuria;  article;  disease association;  endothelial dysfunction;  essential hypertension;  female;  human;  major clinical study;  male;  multiple regression;  predictor variable;  systolic blood pressure;  vascular disease",
    abstract = "Objectives: To investigate the inter-relationships of osteoprotegerin (OPG) with albumin to creatinine ratio (ACR) and asymmetric dimethylargine (ADMA) in hypertensive patients. Methods: In 198 untreated non-diabetic hypertensive patients [130 males, mean age = 51.5 years, office blood pressure (BP) = 152/98 mmHg] ACR values and OPG and ADMA levels were determined. Results: Based on the median value of OPG distribution (5.03 pmol/l) patients with high (n = 101) compared with those with low OPG values (n = 97) had greater 24-h systolic BP (152 ± 5 versus 137 ± 7 mmHg, p < 0.0001), ACR [25.3 (5 190) versus 17.3 (5 92) mg/g, p = 0.003) and ADMA [0.62 (0.58 0.68) versus 0.57 (0.48 0.62) μmol/l, p = 0.001), independently of confounding factors. Multiple regression analyses revealed that ADMA (b = 0.388, p < 0.0001), 24-h systolic BP (b = 0.228, p = 0.01) and ACR (b = 0.470, p < 0.0001) were independent predictors of OPG (R2 = 0.398, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: In hypertensive patients, high OPG levels are accompanied by pronounced albuminuria and endothelial dysfunction, as reflected by raised ADMA levels. Furthermore, the independent associations of OPG with ACR and ADMA, suggests a link between OPG and the progression of diffuse hypertensive vascular damage. © 2011 Informa UK, Ltd."
}