Published a landmark study that is set to reshape understanding of cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients.
A collaborative research effort from Kore University, CoEHAR at the University of Catania, and the University of Palermo has revealed that the oxidative stress biomarker 8-iso-prostaglandin-F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) is significantly associated with a 10-year cardiovascular risk in patients with hypertension.
The study evaluated 432 hypertensive patients (aged 40–75 years). Researchers measured serum levels of 8-iso-PGF2α using the ELISA method and determined cardiovascular risk with two well-validated scoring systems: the Framingham Risk Score (Fr-S) and the Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease Risk Score (ASCVD-S). Patients with higher predicted cardiovascular risk had significantly elevated 8-iso-PGF2α levels, particularly those with preserved renal function (eGFR ≥ 60 mL/min/1.73 m²). In contrast, this association was not observed in patients with impaired renal function—suggesting that advanced vascular damage in these individuals may mask the role of oxidative stress.
Prof. Riccardo Polosa from CoEHAR said: “This breakthrough is a game-changer in cardiovascular risk stratification. Integrating biomarkers like 8-iso-PGF2α into clinical practice could transform our approach to early diagnosis and prevention, ultimately saving lives by enabling truly personalized care.“
Dr. Caterina Carollo from the University of Palermo commented: “Our study demonstrates for the first time that 8-iso-PGF2α is independently associated with 10-year cardiovascular risk in hypertensive patients without overt cardiovascular disease. These findings highlight the potential of oxidative stress markers to complement existing risk assessment tools, enabling more personalized and timely risk reduction strategies for cardiovascular disease.”
Early identification of cardiovascular risk is crucial for implementing effective preventive strategies. The integration of oxidative stress biomarkers like 8-iso-PGF2α into routine clinical assessments could:
- Enhance the precision of risk stratification.
- Enable more tailored and timely therapeutic interventions.
- Ultimately reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease among hypertensive patients.
While the findings are promising, the research team underscores that further longitudinal studies are necessary to confirm these results and to explore the broader clinical applications of this innovative approach.
