Blood Pressure and Arterial Stiffness in Kenyan Adolescents With alpha(+)Thalassemia

作者：Etyang Anthony O^*; Khayeka Wandabwa Christopher; Kapesa Sailoki; Muthumbi Esther; Odipo Emily; Wamukoya Marylene; Ngomi Nicholas; Haregu Tilahun; Kyobutungi Catherine; Tendwa Metrine; Makale Johnstone; Macharia Alex; Cruickshank J Kennedy; Smeeth Liam; Scott J Anthony G; Williams Thomas N

来源：Journal of the American Heart Association, 2017, 6(4): e005613.

DOI：10.1161/JAHA.117.005613

• adolescence
• ambulatory blood pressure monitoring
• alpha(+)thalassemia

Background-Recent studies have discovered that alpha-globin is expressed in blood vessel walls where it plays a role in regulating vascular tone. We tested the hypothesis that blood pressure (BP) might differ between normal individuals and those with alpha(+)thalassemia, in whom the production of alpha-globin is reduced.
Methods and Results-The study was conducted in Nairobi, Kenya, among 938 adolescents aged 11 to 17 years. Twenty-four-hour ambulatory BP monitoring and arterial stiffness measurements were performed using an arteriograph device. We genotyped for alpha(+)thalassemia by polymerase chain reaction. Complete data for analysis were available for 623 subjects; 223 (36%) were heterozygous (-alpha/alpha alpha) and 47 (8%) were homozygous (-alpha/-alpha) for alpha(+)thalassemia whereas the remaining 353 (55%) were normal (alpha alpha/alpha alpha). Mean 24-hour systolic BP +/- D was 118 +/- 12 mm Hg in alpha alpha/alpha alpha, 117 +/- 11 mm Hg in -alpha/alpha alpha, and 118 +/- 11 mm Hg in -alpha/-alpha subjects, respectively. Mean 24-hour diastolic BP +/- SD in these groups was 64 +/- 8, 63 +/- 7, and 65 +/- 8 mm Hg, respectively. Mean pulse wave velocity (PWV)+/- SD was 7 +/- 0.8, 7 +/- 0.8, and 7 +/- 0.7 ms(-1), respectively. No differences were observed in PWV and any of the 24-hour ambulatory BP monitoring-derived measures between those with and without alpha(+)thalassemia.
Conclusions-These data suggest that the presence of alpha(+)thalassemia does not affect BP and/or arterial stiffness in Kenyan adolescents.

• 出版日期2017-4