Difference between systolic and diastolic carotid artery stiffness is independently associated with left ventricular mass index in healthy middle-aged subjects

Results: As expected, clinic blood pressure values and media to lumen ratio were higher in essential hypertensive patients than in normotensive controls. Fibronectin media content was significantly greater in essential hypertensive patients (7.41 2.28 %), compared with normotensive controls (5.62 0.40, P<0.05). A significant correlation was observed between fibronectin media content and media to lumen ratio (rZ0.49, p<0.05). No significant difference in laminin media content was observed between groups (3.7 1.71 % in essential hypertensive patients, 5.63 1.79 % in normotensive controls). Conclusions: Our results indicate that, in small resistance arteries of patients with essential hypertension, fibronectin, but not laminin media content is increased. Fibronectin might be therefore involved in the development of small resistance artery remodeling in humans.