WILLIAMS SYNDROME PREDISPOSES TO VASCULAR STIFFNESS MODIFIED BY ANTI-HYPERTENSIVE USE AND COPY NUMBER CHANGES IN NCF1

摘要

Williams syndrome, is caused by the deletion of 26-28 genes, including elastin, on human chromosome 7. Elastin insufficiency leads to the cardiovascular hallmarks of this condition, namely focal stenosis and hypertension. Extrapolation from the Eln^+/− mouse suggests that affected persons may also have stiff vasculature, a risk factor for stroke, myocardial infarction and cardiac death. NCF1, one of the variably deleted Williams genes, is a component of the NAD(P)H oxidase complex and is involved in the generation of oxidative stress, making it an interesting candidate modifier for vascular stiffness. Using a case-control design, vascular stiffness was evaluated by pulse wave velocity in 77 Williams cases and matched controls. Cases had stiffer conducting vessels than controls (p<0.001), with increased stiffness observed in even the youngest Williams children. Pulse wave velocity increased with age at comparable rates in cases and controls and, although the degree of vascular stiffness varied, it was seen in both hypertensive and normotensive Williams participants. Use of anti-hypertension medication and extension of the Williams deletion to include NCF1 were associated with protection from vascular stiffness. These findings demonstrate that vascular stiffness is a primary vascular phenotype in Williams syndrome and that treatment with anti-hypertensives and/or agents inhibiting oxidative stress may be important in managing patients with this condition, potentially even those who are not overtly hypertensive.