Could soluble ST2 levels be used to detect nondipper hypertensive subgroup in newly diagnosed hypertension patients.

Aim: ST2 receptor is a member of toll-like/interleukin-1 receptor family. After the activation of IL-33/ST2 signaling pathway clinically detectable amount of soluble form of ST2 (sST2) is released into the circulation. Previous studies showed that sST2 levels were significantly higher in hypertension patients than in controls. In this prospective study, we aimed to analyze this relation and test the predictive accuracy of the sST2 level in diagnosis of nondipping hypertension in newly diagnosed hypertension patients.

Methods: Three hundred thirty-seven patients (150 normal, 187 hypertension) who presented with symptoms of hypertension were included in the study. All patients underwent 24-h ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and sST2 measurement.

Results: Of 187 hypertension patients, 92 of them had nondipping and 95 of them had dipping pattern. sST2 level was significantly higher in nondipping group compared to dipping group and control group (40.79 ± 7.77 vs. 32.47 ± 6.68; P  < 0.0001 and 40.79 ± 7.77 vs. 20.09 ± 7.09; P  < 0.0001 respectively). Binary logistic regression analysis revealed that; only sST2 level was an independent risk factor for hypertension [ P  < 0.0001, β : 1.258, odds ratio (OR) (95% confidence interval (CI)): 1.158-1.366]. and also nondipping hypertension [ P  < 0.0001, β : 1.208, OR (95% CI): 1.108-1.317].

Conclusion: Based on the present study it could be concluded that sST2 level is significantly associated with the newly diagnosed hypertension and nondipping hypertension. Hence it could reliably be used to diagnose hypertension and nondipping hypertension with high sensitivity and specificity.