Purpose: Uric acid (UA) has been associated with cardiovascular disease, hypertension and endothelial dysfunction. The relationship between UA and arterial stiffness, peripheral/central pressures in normotensive individuals has not been addressed.

Methods: The study included 120 normotensive individuals (79 males, mean age 40.9 years). UA levels were determined from blood samples; peripheral pressures were measured by an electronic sphygmomanometer; aortic pressures were measured using a validated device, while carotid-femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) was measured as an index of aortic stiffness. The distribution of serum uric acid (UA) was split by the median (4.5 mg/dL) and subjects were divided in low (n=59) and high (n=61) UA group. Comparisons were performed using the independent samples t-test.

Results: UA levels were positively correlated with peripheral systolic (pSP, r=0.373, p<0.001) and diastolic (pDP, r=0.362, p<0.001) blood pressures, as well as central systolic (cSP, r=0.296, p<0.001), and diastolic (cDP, r=0.359, p<0.001) pressures. When compared to low UA subjects, high UA subjects demonstrated significantly higher levels of pSP (110.9±12.3 vs 118.5±8.7 mmHg, p<0.001), pDP (66.5±11 vs 74.05±7 mmHg, p<0.001), cSP (100.6±12.4 vs 107.2±8.9 mmHg, p=0.001) and cDP(67.6±10.9 vs 75.1±7.3 mmHg, p<0.001). As regards to PWV, it was positively correlated with UA levels (r=0.242, p<0.01), with significantly higher levels observed in the high UA group (6.03±1.06 vs 6.55±1.18 m/sec, p=0.01).

Conclusion: Increased levels of UA are associated with higher levels of peripheral/central pressures and herald arterial stiffening, as estimated by PWV, even in healthy, normotensive individuals. Our findings further elucidate the interplay of UA and arterial function.