Endothelial dysfunction in resistance arteries is related to high blood pressure and circulating low density lipoproteins in previously treated hypertension

Background: Peripheral endothelial dysfunction has been demonstrated in hypertension. However, its relationship to blood pressure (BP) load, vascular structure, and metabolic disturbances in patients with long-standing, previously treated hypertension is unclear. Methods: A total of 41 patients with stage I to III essential hypertension and electrocardiographic left ventricular hypertrophy were studied. After 2 to 3 weeks of placebo treatment we measured nitroprusside-induced relaxation (NIR), acetylcholine-induced relaxation (AIR), and media:lumen ratio in isolated, subcutaneous resistance arteries by myography, as well as 24-h ambulatory BP, and serum lipids. Results: Maximal AIR correlated negatively with median 24-h diastolic BP (r = -0.42, P = .01), and sensitivity to AIR correlated negatively with serum low density lipoprotein (LDL) (r = -0.36, P < .05). In multiple regression analyses, sensitivity to AIR correlated negatively with serum LDL (β = -0.33) independently of maximal NIR (β = 0.41) (adjusted R² = 0.26, P < .01). Maximal acetylcholine-induced relaxation correlated negatively with median 24-h diastolic BP (β = -0.38) independently of maximal NIR (β = 0.45) (adjusted R² = 0.32, P < .001). Acetylcholine-induced relaxation was not significantly related to diabetes or to media:lumen ratio (r = -0.26, NS). Conclusions: High diastolic BP and high serum LDL were associated with impaired maximal AIR and reduced sensitivity to AIR, respectively, independently of smooth muscle cell responsiveness to nitroprusside. This indicated decreasing endothelial function in small resistance arteries with increasing BP and increasing LDL in hypertension. Endothelial function was not significantly related to vascular structure of the resistance arteries or to diabetes in these patients with long-standing hypertension.