Purpose. Evaluation of associations between hyperuricaemia, endothelial dysfunction markers, and atherosclerotic carotid arteries in patients with arterial hypertension.

Material and methods. The study included 40 patients with essential arterial hypertension of I-II-degree without associated clinical conditions, type 2 diabetes mellitus and metabolic syndrome. Thirty patients with hyperuricemia were enrolled in basic group, and 10 patients with normal concentration of uric acid were enrolled in the control group.

Results. Compared with patients with normal serum uric acid level, albuminuria (91.4 ± 1.9 vs 60.7 ± 2.2 mg/l, p <0.001), plasma concentrations of endothelin -1 (6.7 ± 0.1 vs 4.9 ± 0.2 pg/ml, p<0.001) and the thickness of the intima-media of the common carotid artery (IMT CCA) (1.3 ± 0.02 vs 1.1 ± 0.04 mm, p <0.001) were significantly increased in the group of hypertensive patients with hyperuricaemia. Reliable direct correlations between uricemia, albuminuria, plasma concentrations of endothelin-1, and IMT CCA have been found.

Conclusion. The significant increase in endothelial dysfunction markers (albuminuria, plasma concentrations of endothelin-1) and IMT CCA pathogenetically related to persistent increase of uric acid in blood serum in hypertensive patients with hyperuricaemia was found.

Keywords: endothelin-1, uric acid, hyperuricemia, arterial hypertension, albuminuria, carotid atherosclerosis