Background:

The biomarker for left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in patients with essential hypertension (EH) remains an unmet clinical need. The microRNA-30 (miR-30) family has been associated with LVH in cellular and animal studies, but not in a clinical setting.

Objective:

The objective of the study was to investigate the clinical significance of circulating levels of miR-30 family as a biomarker for LVH in EH patients.

Methods:

A total of 239 EH patients and 239 healthy controls were enrolled in this study. Circulating levels of miR-30 family members, namely, miR-30a, miR-30b, miR-30c-1, miR-30c-2, miR-30d, and miR-30e, were evaluated using real-time polymerase chain reaction assays.

Results:

The circulating miR-30a, miR-30b, and miR-30e were significantly reduced in EH patients in contrast to controls. EH patients with LVH (EH-LVH) had substantially lower circulating miR-30b and miR-30e levels compared to EH patients without LVH (EH-nLVH). Moreover, the expression levels of miR-30b and miR-30e were positively related to LVMI, respectively. Receiver operating curve analysis showed that circulating miR-30e levels distinguished EH patients from controls, and EH-LVH from EH-nLVH patients. Logistic regression analysis identified the circulating miR-30e as a risk factor for LVH in EH patients.

Conclusion:

Circulating miR-30e level can be used as a biomarker in distinguishing EH-LVH from EH-nLVH. A further prospective study is warranted to validate this finding.