Study of The Relationship Between Differential Small Molecule Peptides in Peripheral Blood and Arteriosclerosis in Patients with Essential Hypertension.

This study investigated the association between serum small peptides and arteriosclerosis (AS) in hypertensive patients. Sixty hypertensive patients (with and without AS) and 30 healthy individuals were enrolled. Untargeted metabolomics identified 120 peptides in AS patients, 136 in hypertensive patients, and 59 shared peptides. LASSO regression identified key peptides differentiating hypertensive patients with AS from those without. Peptides like Thr-Ile, Phe-Asp-Lys, and Lys-Ile-Val-Lys were upregulated in AS, while others like Gln-Glu and Lys-Lys were higher in non-AS patients. The diagnostic model showed AUCs of 0.896 for AS and 0.909 for non-AS. Elevated levels of Lys-Ile-Val-Lys and Phe-Asp-Lys were linked to increased carotid intima-media thickness, indicating higher AS risk.