Objective: We aimed to compare central blood pressure, central pulse pressure, and parameters like augmentation index (Aix) and pulse wave velocity (PWV), which are used to evaluate arterial stiffness using an oscillometric method called arteriography, among hypertensive patients with and without concomitant ascending aortic aneurysms. Methods: A total of 83 patients were included in this study, including 44 consecutive patients with hypertension (HT) diagnosed and ascending aortic (AA) diamater 40 mm or more detected by 2D transthoracic echocardiography (TTE), and 39 controls with HT diagnosed and normal AA diameter. Results: E/e’ ratio was found to be significantly higher in the aneurysm group (9,05±2,24 vs 7,75±1,94, p<0.05). The difference between peripheral and central systolic blood pressures was found to be significantly lower in the aneurysm group compared to the control group (9,3±4,5 vs 11,8±4,1, p<0.05, respectively). Among the examined arterial stiffness parameters, Aix values were significantly higher in the aneurysm group (27±8,7 vs 22,7±9,6, p<0.05), while PWV did not show a statistically significant difference between the groups (8,85±1,85 vs 8,59±1,19, p>0.05, respectively). Conclusion: Our study suggests that the use of the osilometric arteriograph device is a simple, cost-effective, and reliable method for assessing increased aortic stiffness in patients coexistence HT and AA aneurysm. We also mention an interesting point about the potential relationship between the development of AA aneurysm and elevated aortic stiffness in hypertensive patients.

Objective: Monocyte to HDL cholesterol ratio (MHR), lymphocyte to monocyte ratio (LMR) and neutrophil to lymphocyte ratio (NLR) have been proposed as novel systemic inflammatory markers. The aim of this study was to explore the association between MHR, LMR, NLR and pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH). Methods: The study is a single-centre, retrospective observational study. The study group consisted of 73 patients with PAH and the control group consisted of 77 participants without cardiac pathology as determined by echocardiography. On admission, blood sampling to calculate MHR, LMR, NLR and detailed clinical data were obtained. Results: According to the Pearson test, systolic pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) value positively correlated with the MHR and NLR (r: .35, p<0.001 and r: .33, p<0.001, respectively), but negatively correlated with LMR (r: -.26, p=0.001). After multivariate logistic regression analysis, MHR, LMR and NLR remained a significant predictor of PAH (OR: 2.972, 95% CI: 1.541-5.731, p=0.001; OR: 0.515, 95% CI: 0.385-0.687, p<0.001; OR: 1.390, 95% CI: 1.083- 1.784 p=0.010, respectively). Conclusion: Higher MHR, NLR and lower LMR that indicates an enhanced inflammation were significantly increased in patients with PAH compared with controls. Compared to many other inflammatory markers, these markers are cost effective, widely available and does not bring additional costs. Keywords: Pulmonary arterial hypertension, Monocyte to HDL cholesterol ratio, lymphocyte to monocyte ratio What’s already known about this topic? MHR, LMR and NLR have been proposed as novel systemic inflammatory markers in clinical studies. What does this article add? The association between MHR, NLR and LMR with PAH is unknown. In this study these parameters were significantly associated with PAH. Compared to many other inflammatory markers, these markers are cost effective and widely available.