Key result
Chronic treatment with warfarin and vitamin K1 in rats induced aortic medial calcification and elevated pulse pressure, creating a new experimental model of isolated systolic hypertension.
May facilitate preclinical studies of aortic calcification; clinical relevance to human hypertension remains undetermined.
BACKGROUND: Isolated systolic hypertension is the predominant form of hypertension in the elderly population. Reduction of arterial compliance appears to contribute to the elevation of pulse pressure (PP) and among potential mechanisms, gradual vascular calcification, fragmentation of elastic lamellae, and augmentation of rigid component like collagen could contribute to increase aortic stiffening. Few experimental models of the disease are currently available. METHODS: To induce large artery calcification, rats were treated with warfarin and vitamin K(1) (WK) for 4 and 8 weeks, to inhibit the maturation of matrix Gla protein. The impact of chronic PP elevation was determined on large artery and cardiac remodeling and on aortic endothelial function. RESULTS: The WK treatment led to aortic medial calcification and a proportional elevation of PP, attributable mainly to a selective elevation of systolic blood pressure. The chronic treatment also increased collagen, whereas elastin decreased in the aorta. Pulse wave velocity, an index of aortic stiffening, increased in rats treated with WK. However, indices of left ventricular and aortic hypertrophy and remodeling remained normal. In addition, the WK treatment did not modify the vasoconstriction to norepinephrine and endothelin-1, and the vasodilatory response to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside. CONCLUSIONS: Chronic treatment with WK represents a new model of isolated systolic hypertension with several characteristics of the human disease. The relative ease to induce calcification in this model may help to foster more fundamental research, which is lacking in this type of hypertension.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Rachida Essalihi (2003) studied Isolated systolic hypertension. Warfarin and vitamin K1 was evaluated on Impact of chronic pulse pressure elevation on large artery and cardiac remodeling and on aortic endothelial function. Chronic treatment with warfarin and vitamin K1 in rats induced aortic medial calcification and elevated pulse pressure, creating a new experimental model of isolated systolic hypertension.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: