Plasma pentraxin 3, but not high-sensitivity c-reactive protein, is a useful inflammatory biomarker for predicting cognitive impairment in elderly hypertensive patients

Abstract

Background.Due to the increasing longevity of human populations worldwide, there is need of a useful biomarker for the early detection of cognitive impairment in elderly persons. Both high blood pressure (BP) and inflammatory processes have been reported to be involved in cognitive impairment via cerebrovascular atherosclerosis or neuronal cell damage.Methods.In this cross-sectional study of 210 ambulatory elderly hypertensive patients without clinically evident dementia (mean age: 74 years; 44% men), we measured 24-hour BP, circulatory pentraxin 3 (PTX3) and high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) levels, and cognitive function (Mini-Mental State Examination [MMSE]).Results.A high plasma PTX3 level was observed in lean subjects, especially in those whose current body weight was lower than that measured 5 years earlier, whereas a high hs-CRP level was associated with obesity (all p <0.001 and r =-.153, p<0.05, respectively); however, in multiple regression analysis, the PTX3 level, but not the hs-CRP level, was inversely associated with the MMSE score independently of patient demographics, glucose and lipid metabolic parameters, 24-hour systolic BP (SBP) level, and the atherosclerotic burden (all p