Supervisors info:
Κωνσταντίνος Τσιούφης, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Γεράσιμος Σιάσος, Καθηγητής, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Κωνσταντίνα Αγγέλη, Καθηγήτρια, Ιατρική Σχολή, ΕΚΠΑ
Summary:
Introduction: Hypertension is one of the most common diseases worldwide and one
of the greatest problems of public health. Endothelial dysfunction plays an important
role in the pathological basis of hypertension. The last few decades, serum biomarkers
have been discovered in order to assess the endothelial function.
Aim: The aim of this study is to estimate serum biomarkers of endothelial
dysfunction.
Methodology: In this study serum markers of hypertension have been determined
based on published studies through a systematic review. Databases such as Pubmed,
Scopus and Science Direct have been used in order to find the most valid studies that
have been published the last few years by using the following key words:
Hypertension, Hypertensive, Endothelial dysfunction, Markers, Biomarkers, Serum
Markers, Indices, FMD, Flow –mediated dilation, Microalbuminuria, Endocan, and
Pentraxin 3.
Results: Based on the literature 24 studies have been found and used in this review, 4
for endocan, 4 for pentraxin 3, 10 for flow-mediated dilation, 4 for microalbuminuria
and 2 studies for other serum biomarkers. Flow-mediated dilation may be used for the
estimation of endothelial dysfunction and may also predict the development of preeclampsia and hypertension in pregnancy during the 3rd trimester. Endocan
constitutes a relative new biomarker of endothelial dysfunction which can be used to
compare and contrast the action of two different drug categories on hypertension. It is
also associated with the presence of coronary artery disease in hypertensive patients.
Pentraxin 3 is a more effective marker of endothelial function in patients with
pulmonary hypertension and people with dipper and non-dipper types of hypertensive
disease and it may even be as effective as CRP levels and FMD.6
Conclusion: Some of the most reliable and effective markers of endothelial
dysfunction in hypertension are endocan, pentraxin 3, flow-mediated dilation and
microalbuminuria and through the comparison and the use of those four more
biomarkers may be discovered. The latter may also be used for the prognosis and
categorization of hypertension in subgroups.
Key-words: hypertension, biomarker, endothelial dysfunction
