RESEARCH - Serum uric acid is independently associated with hypertension in patients with RA

[Guest guest]

J Hum Hypertens. 2007 Oct 25 [Epub ahead of print]

Serum uric acid is independently associated with hypertension in

patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Panoulas VF, KM, Milionis HJ, Nightingale P, Kita MD, Klocke

R, Metsios GS, Stavropoulos-Kalinoglou A, f MS, Kitas GD.

[1] 1Department of Rheumatology, Dudley Group of Hospitals NHS Trust,

s Hall Hospital, Dudley, West Midlands, UK [2] 2Department of

Internal Medicine, School of Medicine, University of Ioannina,

Ioannina, Greece.

Hypertension (HT) is highly prevalent in rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Serum uric acid (SUA) has been associated with HT in the general

population. The mutual exclusion of gout and RA, and the systemic

inflammatory component of RA may alter this association in this

patient population. We explored a potential association between SUA

levels and HT in RA and evaluated whether this association is

independent of HT risk factors, RA characteristics and relevant drugs.

A total of 400 consecutive RA patients were assessed. SUA and complete

biochemical profile were measured. Demographic, HT-related factors, RA

characteristics and drugs were assessed as potential covariates.

Results were analysed using binary logistic models to test the

independence of the association between SUA and HT. SUA levels were

higher in hypertensive compared to normotensive RA patients

(5.44+/-1.6 mg dl(-1) (323.57+/-95.17 mumol l(-1)) vs 4.56+/-1.1 mg

dl(-1) (271.23+/-65.43 mumol l(-1)), P<0.001). When adjusted for HT

risk factors, renal function, RA characteristics, non-steroidal

anti-inflammatory drugs, oral prednisolone, cyclosporine, leflunomide

and low-dose aspirin, the odds of being a hypertensive RA patient per

1 mg dl(-1)(59.48 mumol l(-1)) SUA increase were significantly

increased: OR=1.59 (95% CI: 1.21-2.1, P=0.001). This was also

significant for the subgroup of patients who were not on diuretics

(OR=1.5, 95% CI: 1.1-2.05; P=0.011). This cross-sectional study

suggests that SUA levels are independently associated with HT in RA

patients. Prospective longitudinal studies are needed to confirm and

further explore the causes and implications of this

association.Journal of Human Hypertension advance online publication,

25 October 2007; doi:10.1038/sj.jhh.1002298.

PMID: 17960169

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/sites/entrez?Db=pubmed & Cmd=ShowDetailView & TermToSear\

ch=17960169

--

Not an MD