Key result
Antihypertensive therapy in controlled hypertension linked to ~7% lower plasma MMP-9 levels versus untreated prehypertensives.
Why the study?
The study was designed to evaluate the correlation between ABPM-derived hemodynamic variables and MMP-9 levels across different blood pressure categories.
Does antihypertensive therapy reduce plasma MMP-9 levels in hypertensive patients compared to untreated prehypertensive individuals?
Cross-Sectional (n=101)
No
Does antihypertensive therapy reduce plasma MMP-9 levels in hypertensive patients compared to untreated prehypertensive individuals?
Absolute Event Rate: 4.41% vs 4.74%
p-value: p=0.002
Controlled hypertensive patients on pharmacological therapy exhibit lower MMP-9 levels than untreated prehypertensive individuals, suggesting antihypertensive treatment may attenuate extracellular matrix degradation and vascular remodeling.
Antihypertensive therapy may associate with lower MMP-9 versus prehypertension; hypothesis-generating but should not yet change practice.
Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), alongside peripheral blood pressure (BP) measurements, provides valuable insights into central hemodynamics, including pulse wave velocity (PWV), augmentation index (AI75%), and central pressure-factors closely linked to arterial stiffness. The progression of arterial stiffness is associated with matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9), an extracellular matrix enzyme. This study aims to assess the correlation between variables obtained through ABPM and MMP-9 levels across different BP categories. A total of 101 individuals were enrolled, divided into three groups: 21 normotensive (NT), 36 prehypertensive (PH), and 44 controlled hypertensive (CHT) participants. Peripheral and central BP parameters were evaluated using the Mobil-O-Graph® 24-hour PWA monitor, and plasma MMP-9 levels were measured in all participants. Participants' ages ranged from 30 to 71 years. MMP-9 concentrations were significantly higher in the PH group (4.74 ± 0.5 ng/mL) compared to the CHT group (4.41 ± 0.5 ng/mL; p = 0.002). MMP-9 levels showed a correlation with cardiac output and heart rate during all three ABPM evaluation periods (24 h, wakefulness, and sleep). PWV values were higher in the CHT group than in the PH group (8.1 ± 1.2 vs. 6.9 ± 1; p = 0.0003), whereas AI75% did not differ significantly between the groups (22.6 ± 8.9 vs. 19.8 ± 7.4; p = NS). Prehypertensive individuals exhibit higher MMP-9 levels compared to controlled hypertensive patients, suggesting that antihypertensive therapy may contribute to reduced plasma MMP-9 levels.
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Vilela-Martin et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Hypertension (n=101). Antihypertensive therapy vs. Prehypertensive (untreated) was evaluated on Plasma MMP-9 levels (ng/mL) (p=0.002). Antihypertensive therapy in controlled hypertensive patients was associated with significantly lower plasma MMP-9 levels (4.41 ng/mL) compared to untreated prehypertensive individuals (4.74 ng/mL).
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