Association between carotid arterial remodeling and plasma concentration of circulating hepatocyte growth factor

Background Several studies have reported that the circulating concentration of hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) was increased in individuals with clinic ally overt atherosclerotic disease, including coronary heart disease and pe ripheral arterial disease. However, whether changes in the circulating conc entration of HGF are associated with early atherosclerotic changes in appar ently healthy individuals remains to be determined. Objective To investigate the relationship between the plasma concentration of HGF and carotid arterial remodeling. Methods Plasma concentrations of HGF were measured in 201 community-dwellin g healthy residents free from any medications and signs and history of card iovascular disease. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) and carotid intern al diameter were determined by ultrasonography with a 7.5 MHz probe. The st udy participants were divided into four groups according to the presence or absence of carotid atherosclerosis (presence of plaque, IMT greater than o r equal to 0.85 mm) and carotid arterial dilatation (diameter greater than or equal to 7.0 mm). Results Carotid arterial remodeling, atherosclerosis or dilatation, or comb inations thereof, was associated with significantly greater concentrations of plasma HGF. Among risk factors, plasma HGF was significantly associated with advanced age (greater than or equal to 65 years), current smoking and diabetes mellitus, whereas sex, obesity, hypertension and hypercholesterole mia did not affect plasma concentrations of HGF. Multiple regression analys is showed that plasma HGF was independently associated with carotid arteria l remodeling (atherosclerosis, dilatation, or both) in addition to age and systolic blood pressure. Conclusions These results indicate that the plasma concentration of HGF inc reases in relation to carotid arterial remodeling, independently of known r isk factors for atherosclerosis. These findings further support a possible role of HGF in atherosclerosis. (C) 2001 Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.