Aim: A prothrombotic state is associated with organ damage in hypertensive patients. Carotid intima-media thickness (IMT) is an early marker of vascular damage that anticipates the development of atherosclerotic plaques. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationships between subclinical carotid damage and markers of the prothrombotic state in hypertension. Methods: In 258 essential hypertensive patients who were consecutively recruited at a hypertension clinic an ultrasound carotid scan was performed with assessment of the IMT and plasma levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, fibrin D-dimer, prothrombin fragment 1 + 2, homocysteine, and lipoprotein(a) were measured. Results: Patients with an IMT above the median of the distribution (800 mu m) were older and had greater BMI, pulse pressure, duration of hypertension, and prevalence of coronary heart disease than patients with an IMT below the median. Patients with higher IMT had also greater levels of C-reactive protein, fibrinogen, fibrin D-dimer, and homocysteine. Regression analysis showed a direct relationship of IMT with age, waist circumference, pulse pressure, fibrinogen, fibrin D-dimer, and number of cigarettes smoked per day, and an inverse relationship with creatinine clearance. On multivariate analysis, age, pulse pressure, and fibrin D-dimer were independently related with IMT. Conclusion: In hypertensive patients, subclinical carotid damage is related with evidence of activated coagulation system suggesting a prothrombotic state. This might contribute to the development of hypertensive arterial damage even in the earliest stages.
