Evaluation of Circulating Platelet Extracellular Vesicles and Hypertension Mediated Organ Damage

Figures

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  Figure 1. Schematic representation of the study techniques to evaluate hypertension organ damage (HMOD). Pulse wave velocity was used to assess arterial stiffness as a marker of macrovascular damage. Vascular density in different layers of the retina using optical coherence tomography–angiography (OCT–A) was used to evaluate microvascular damage. Flow-mediated vasodilation of the brachial artery and finger plethysmography were used to determine endothelial function. Indices of anxiety and depression were used to determine the psychosocial status. Platelet derived extracellular vesicles were evaluated as a possible biomarker of vascular damage.

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  Figure 2. Platelet derived extracellular vesicles and retinal vascular density. Top panel. Schematic representation of the retina and the definitions for the zones employed in this study. The foveal density refers to the 1 mm diameter circle around the fovea, parafoveal to a ring from 1 mm to 3 mm around the fovea and whole image to everything within the 6 × 6 mm square centred on the fovea. Centre panel. Scatterplot of extracellular vesicles and superficial vascular plexus density at (A) fovea zone (p = 0.74), (B) parafovea zone (p = 0.58), and (C) whole image (p = 0.66). Bottom panel. Scatterplot of extracellular vesicles and deep vascular plexus density at (D) fovea zone (p = 0.67), (E) parafovea zone (p = 0.86), and (F) whole image (p = 0.89). Blue line represents the regression line of best fit. The grey bands around the line represents 95% confidence intervals.

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  Figure 3. Platelet derived extracellular vesicles and endothelial function. (A) Scatterplot of extracellular vesicles and flow mediated dilatation (p = 0.15). (B) Boxplot of extracellular vesicles and patients with and without endothelial dysfunction according to the FMD measurements (p = 0.19). (C) Scatterplot of the extracellular vesicles and reactive hyperaemia index (p = 0.84). (D) Boxplot of the extracellular vesicles and patients with and without endothelial dysfunction according to the reactive hyperaemia index measurements (p = 0.57). Blue line represents the regression line of best fit. The grey bands around the line represents 95% confidence intervals.

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  Figure 4. Platelet derived extracellular vesicles and emotional evaluation. (A) Boxplot of depression categories and extracellular vesicles (p = 0.83). (B) Boxplot of anxiety rating (trait) categories and extracellular vesicles (p = 0.88). (C) Boxplot of anxiety rating (state) categories and extracellular vesicles (p = 0.21).