Relation of metalloproteinase 9 and its inhibitor with carotid artery atherosclerosis in aged patients with hypertension

Objective To study the relation of metalloproteinase-9(MMP-9) and its inhibitor,metalloproteinase -1(TIMP-1),with carotid artery atherosclerosis in aged patients with hypertension. Methods Three hundred and thirty patients with hypertension were divided into normal-intima media thickness(IMT) group(n= 26) increased IMT group(n= 80).stable plaque group(n=135) and unstable plaque group(n= 89).Their IMT and carotid plaques were detected by high resolution B mode ultrasonography and their serum levels of biochemical indicators,MMP-9 and TIMP-1,were measured and compared.Results The serum MMP-9 and TIMP-1 levels increased gradually in the 4 groups and were higher in the unstable plaque group than in the other 3 groups (P0.01).Multiple linear stepwise regression analysis showed that the IMT was positively related with the age,systolic blood pressure,LDL-C and fasting blood sugar of patients with hypertension (P0.05,P0.01).Logistic regression analysis showed that the carotid plaque was positively related with the body mass index,systolic blood pressure,LDL-C and logMMP-9 of patients with hypertension(P0.05,P0.01).Conclusion Serum MMP-9 level and MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio are closely related with carotid plaque and its stability in aged patients with hypertension.