MMP9 and Hypertension: Patients positive for AT1-AAs had a significantly greater MAD (mean [SD], 45.8 [7.0] vs 44.0 [6.1] mm; P = .02), higher levels of MMP-9 (median, 43.9 [IQR, 38.4-50.3] vs 36.4 [IQR, 30.9-39.7] ng/mL; P < .001) and serum IL-6 (mean [SD], 13.43 [6.66] vs 8.07 [4.99] pg/mL; P < .001), and higher proportion of grade 3 hypertension (35 [38.0%] vs 48 [21.5%]; P = .002) compared with patients negative for AT1-AA (Table 1).