Relationship of Matrix Metalloproteinase 9 and Tissue Inhibitor of Metalloproteinase 1 with Hypertensive Carotid Atherosclerosis in Elderly Patients

Objective To investigate the relationship of matrix metalloproteinase 9( MMP-9) and tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase 1( TIMP-1) with hypertensive carotid atherosclerosis and its stability. Methods The intima-media thickness( IMT) was measured by using color Doppler ultrasound in 125 cases of hypertension. These patients were divided into simple hypertensive group( n =45),mild atherosclerosis group( n =42) and severe atherosclerosis group( n =38) according to the results of the ultrasound diagnosis. Based on the stability of plaque in atherosclerosis patients,they were classified into stable plaque group( n =45) and unstable plaque group( n = 35). Fifty healthy cases without atherosclerosis were selected as control group. The levels of serum MMP-9,TIMP-1 and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein( hs-CRP) were detected with automatic biochemical analyzer. Results The levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP increased significantly while the level of TIMP-1 decreased remarkably in the simple hypertension group compared with the controls( all P 0. 05). The levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP were significant higher while the level of TIMP-1 was significantly lower in the severe atherosclerosis group in contrast with those in the simple hypertension group and mild atherosclerosis group( P 0. 05).The levels of MMP-9 and hs-CRP increased significantly,but the levels of TIMP-1 decreased significantly in the unstable plaque group compared with stable plaque group( P 0. 05). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that IMT,MMP-9,TIMP-1 were the independent risk factors for hypertensive carotid atherosclerosis. Conclusion The levels of serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 closely correlate with the formation and stability of hypertensive carotid plaque.