Arterial hypertension (HTN) is a major cardiovascular factor which leads to several diseases. We hypothized that cystatin C may reflect the cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients.

Patients and Methods we studied 31 hypertensive patients with no exertional dyspnea and 30 age and sex-matched healthy subjects. Patients didn’t experience any history of diabetes, coronary or valvular heart disease. Kidney and liver dysfunction were also exclusion criteria in our study. 2D and 3D echocardiography was performed with use of speckle tracking imaging. Serum cystatin C was also calculated. Cardiovascular risk scoring was calculated according to the European charts (SCORE).

Mean patients’ age was 51±10 years. Mean left ventricular ejection fraction was similar in both hypertensive and healthy subjects (65±4 vs.64,4±4,5%, p=0,5). However, LV mass and relative wall thickness were significantly greater in HTN group (116±19 vs. 75±18g/m ²; p<0,0001 and 0,54±0,12 vs. 0,36±0,03; p<0,0001 respectively). Hypertensive patients had greater cardiovascular risk score (1,87 vs. 0,8; p=0,009). There was higher serum cystatin C level in HTN group (0,8±0,2 vs. 0,58±0,12mg/L; p<0,0001). We depicted a significant positive correlation between cystatin C levels and cardiovascular risk score (R=0,50, p<0,0001). The ROC curve revealed that Cystatin C had a sensitivity of 82% and a specificity of 77% to predict high cardiovascular risk with a cutoff of 0,75mg/L (AUC was 0,81; p=0,002).

Serum cystatin C may reflect the cardiovascular risk in hyper-tensive patients with good sensitivity and specificity.