Does platelet CD40 contribute to enhanced monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 levels in patients with resistant hypertension?
Platelets can contribute to enhanced MCP-1 levels in EH. MCP-1 is markedly elevated in serum of EH patients with highest levels in patients with microalbuminuria, one early sign of renal target organ damage. Further studies are required to test whether MCP-1 blocking or antiplatelet strategies may represent new therapeutic options in preventing hypertensive target organ damage.
The determination of RASSS for radiographic damage of the spine is frequently impossible or strongly influenced by non-contributory imputation. In comparison to the mSASSS, the contribution of thoracic VCs in the RASSS method is negligible, and does not justify the additional scoring efforts.