Relationship between the Plasma Fibulin-1 Levels, Pulse Wave Velocity, and Vascular Age in Asymptomatic Hyperuricemia

Curr Med Sci. 2021 Feb;41(1):94-99. doi: 10.1007/s11596-021-2324-3. Epub 2021 Feb 13.

Abstract

Fibulin-1 (FBLN-1), an elastin-associated extracellular matrix protein, has been found in blood and may play a role in the pathophysiological processes leading to cardiovascular disease (CVD). We aimed to investigate the relationship between fibulin-1 levels and the risk of CVD by evaluating vascular age derived from the Framingham Heart Study and brachial-ankle Pulse Wave Velocity (baPWV) in patients with asymptomatic hyperuricemia (AHU). In total, 66 patients with AHU and 66 gender- and age-matched healthy individuals were enrolled. The plasma fibulin-1 levels were measured by immunochemistry. Patients with AHU presented significantly higher vascular age [median (interquartile range): 54 (22) vs. 48 (14) years, P=0.01] and baPWV [mean±SD: 1373±223 vs. 1291±177 cm/s, P=0.02] than the healthy subjects; however, no significant difference was observed in the plasma fibulin-1 level between the patients with AHU and healthy subjects [median (interquartile range): 4018 (3838) vs. 3099 (3405) ng/mL, P=0.31]. A correlation between fibulin-1 levels and baPWV was observed only in patients with AHU (r=0.29, P=0.02); and there was also a suggestively statistically significant correlation between fibulin-1 levels and vascular age (r=0.22, P=0.08). However, these associations were rendered insignificant after adjustments for potential confounders. In healthy subjects, no correlation was observed between fibulin-1 levels and CVD risk. This study reveals that plasma fibulin-1 levels may reflect the CVD risk in patients with AHU, but the relationship is not robust.

Keywords: asymptomatic hyperuricemia; brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity; cardiovascular risk; fibulin-1; vascular age.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Asymptomatic Diseases
  • Blood Pressure
  • Blood Vessels / growth & development
  • Blood Vessels / physiology*
  • Calcium-Binding Proteins / blood*
  • Cardiometabolic Risk Factors
  • Cholesterol / blood
  • Female
  • Heart Rate
  • Humans
  • Hyperuricemia / blood*
  • Hyperuricemia / pathology
  • Hyperuricemia / physiopathology
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Pulse Wave Analysis*

Substances

  • Calcium-Binding Proteins
  • fibulin
  • Cholesterol