P-278: Plasma level of hepatocyte growth factor is associated with carotid intima-media thickness

• Published in: American journal of hypertension Vol. 14; no. S1; pp. 121A - 122A
• Main Authors: Yamamoto, Yoshikuni, Kohara, Katsuhiko, Tabara, Yasuharu, Ohnishi, Michie, Ueki, Shozo, Yano, Hiromitsu, Igase, Michiya, Nakura, Jun, Miki, Tetsuro
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01.04.2001
• Subjects: atherosclerosis; carotid; HGF
• ISSN: 0895-7061; 1941-7225; 1879-1905
• DOI: 10.1016/S0895-7061(01)01449-2

Plasma level of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been shown to be associated with severity of hypertension, diabetic retinopathy, or peripheral arteriosclerotic disorders. We investigate whether plasma level of HGF could be used as marker for atherosclerosis. Plasma level of HGF was determined by ELISA in 204 community-dwelling healthy residents free from any medications. Imtima-media thickness (IMT) was measured by ultrasonography with 7.5 MHz probe. Plasma level of HGF was significantly associated with age (p=0.0001), systolic blood pressure (p=0.019), and male sex (p=0.015). However, plasma HGF was not associated with diastolic blood pressure, total-cholesterol, plasma glucose, and smoking. Plasma HGF was significantly associated with carotid IMT (r=0.014). Stepwise regression analysis revealed that carotid atherosclerosis defined as IMT>0.85 mm independently explains plasma level of HGF. Plasma level of HGF≥0.16 ng/ml was independently associated with carotid atherosclerosis in addition to hypertension and male sex. These findings indicate that plasma level of HGF could be used as biohumoral marker for the severity of atherosclerosis.