Published online before print August 11, 2008, doi: 10.1161/HYPERTENSIONAHA.108.118679
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(Hypertension. 2008;52:e32.)
© 2008 American Heart Association, Inc.
Letters to the Editor |
The Malignant Hypertension-Thrombotic Microangiopathy Link
Department of Haematology, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, United Kingdom
The article by van den Born et al1 nicely demonstrates the reduction in ADAMTS-13 levels in patients with malignant hypertension. This study is further proof that low levels of this enzyme are more a marker of endothelial dysfunction rather than of thrombotic microangiopathy (TMA). Endothelial dysfunction also causes a reduction of NO, which is an important role player in the pathogenesis of both malignant hypertension and TMA.2,3
Patterson et al2 demonstrated that superoxide anion contributes to the pathogenesis of various forms of hypertension, including malignant hypertension, through a mechanism that is NO dependent. Increased levels of superoxide anion can reduce the bioactivity of NO, which contribute to elevated arterial pressures and renal vascular resistance, leading to the development of malignant hypertension. The administration of the NO synthase inhibitor nitro-L-arginine also inhibited the response to a superoxide dismutase mimetic, indicating the lack of NO in the development of malignant hypertension.
In patients with TMA, the red cell free hemoglobin, present in the plasma during hemolysis, can scavenge NO.3 Hemoglobin, which is outside the red cell has a great affinity for NO compared with when it is compartmentalized inside the red cell. In severe hemolysis, the excess of cell free hemoglobin, depletes NO present in the circulation. Depletion of NO, a platelet antiaggregatory and vasodilatory molecule, can lead to TMA.3
The authors describe that increased levels of von Willebrand factor (VWF) correlate with the low levels of ADAMTS-13. However, it is unlikely that a lower ADAMTS-13 activity would have led to the expression of large VWF multimers. This is confirmed by the absence of ultralarge VWF multimers in these patients. However, the depletion of NO can also cause a release of VWF multimers into the plasma. NO has been shown to exert a negative feedback on VWF secretion mediated by activation of soluble guanylate cyclase and generation of cGMP.4
The close correlation between ADAMTS-13 activity and renal insufficiency in patients with malignant hypertension has also been suggested with a proposal to identify treatment directed at increasing ADAMTS-13 activity and, thus, benefiting patients with renal dysfunction. The correlation between ADAMTS-13 activity and renal insufficiency may actually explain the endothelial dysfunction in malignant hypertension rather than a cause-effect relationship. In the normal renal glomerular physiology, NO is an important molecule.5 In vivo inhibition of NO production can have dramatic effects on renal and glomerular hemodynamics. Endogenous NO is also critical in maintaining normal basal tone in renal (and systemic) circulations. The renal insufficiency in patients with malignant hypertension can be secondary to a lack of NO, among other reasons, and "NO donors" rather than "ADAMTS-13 donors" are likely to be more helpful.
In summary, NO is the common pathophysiological factor that can explain the link between malignant hypertension and TMA. The increased levels of ADAMTS-13, VWF, and indeed the depletion of NO all point to the common endothelial dysfunction, which is well established in both of these conditions.
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Acknowledgments |
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Disclosures
None.
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References |
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 Top References |
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1. van den Born BJ, van der Hoeven NV, Groot E, Lenting PJ, Meijers JC, Levi M, van Montfrans GA. Association between thrombotic microangiopathy and reduced ADAMTS13 activity in malignant hypertension. Hypertension. 2008; 51: 862–866.
2. Patterson ME, Mouton CR, Mullins JJ, Mitchell KD. Interactive effects of superoxide anion and nitric oxide on blood pressure and renal hemodynamics in transgenic rats with inducible malignant hypertension. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2005; 289: F754–F759.
3. Cappellini MD. Coagulation in the pathophysiology of hemolytic anemias. Hematology Am Soc Hematol Educ Program. 2007; 2007: 74–78.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
4. Munzel T, Feil R, Mulsch A, Lohmann SM, Hofmann F, Walter U. Physiology and pathophysiology of vascular signaling controlled by guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate-dependent protein kinase. Circulation. 2003; 108: 2172–2183.
5. Raij L, Shultz PJ. Endothelium-derived relaxing factor, nitric oxide: effects on and production by mesangial cells and the glomerulus. J Am Soc Nephrol. 1993; 3: 1435–1441.[Abstract]
This article has been cited by other articles:
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  B.-J. H. van den Born and G. A. van Montfrans Response to the Malignant Hypertension-Thrombotic Microangiopathy Link Hypertension, October 1, 2008; 52(4): e33 - e33. [Full Text] [PDF]
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