Vol 6, No 4 (2002)
Original paper
Published online: 2002-10-18
Does Obesity Aggravate Inflammation in Patients with Hypertension?
Nadciśnienie tętnicze 2002;6(4):263-269.
Abstract
Background Mechanical stress observed in hypertension leads to endothelial damage and inflammation response. Recently, it has been observed that adipose tissue produces some cytokines - TNF-a, IL-6.
The aim of the study was to evaluate selected inflammatory markers in patients with obesity and hypertension and estimation of their relation to selected anthropometric and biochemical parameters.
Material and methods 32 patients with hypertension - group I, 34 patients with obesity and hypertension - group II, 16 healthy volunteers as a control were studied. We estimated dependent fat content (%FAT) by bioimpedancy. Serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a), interleukins (IL-4, 6, 10), C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin were measured. Insulin resistance ratio (IRI/G) was calculated as a insulin:glucose.
Results Higher concentrations of TNF-a, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, CRP, insulin, IRI/G ratio as compared to a control were found in both groups. In group II higher TNF-a, IL-10, insulin and IRI/G and tendency to higher IL-4, IL-6, CRP as compared to group I were observed. In group II correlations between ln (TNF-a) and %FAT and IRI/G ratio were found. %FAT and TNF-a emerged as independent predictors of IRI/G ratio.
Conclusions 1. Hypertension is associated with increased level of inflammatory markers. 2. Obesity can aggravate inflammation in patients with hypertension. 3. Aggravated inflammation in obese patients should be considered as a potential proatherogenic mechanism in this group. 4. Increased plasma TNF-a, its positive correlation with IRI/G indicated that TNF-a should be considered as a potential player in the state of insulin resistance. 5. Both TNF-a and %FAT emerged as independent predictors of insulin resistance.
Material and methods 32 patients with hypertension - group I, 34 patients with obesity and hypertension - group II, 16 healthy volunteers as a control were studied. We estimated dependent fat content (%FAT) by bioimpedancy. Serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-a), interleukins (IL-4, 6, 10), C-reactive protein (CRP), insulin were measured. Insulin resistance ratio (IRI/G) was calculated as a insulin:glucose.
Results Higher concentrations of TNF-a, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, CRP, insulin, IRI/G ratio as compared to a control were found in both groups. In group II higher TNF-a, IL-10, insulin and IRI/G and tendency to higher IL-4, IL-6, CRP as compared to group I were observed. In group II correlations between ln (TNF-a) and %FAT and IRI/G ratio were found. %FAT and TNF-a emerged as independent predictors of IRI/G ratio.
Conclusions 1. Hypertension is associated with increased level of inflammatory markers. 2. Obesity can aggravate inflammation in patients with hypertension. 3. Aggravated inflammation in obese patients should be considered as a potential proatherogenic mechanism in this group. 4. Increased plasma TNF-a, its positive correlation with IRI/G indicated that TNF-a should be considered as a potential player in the state of insulin resistance. 5. Both TNF-a and %FAT emerged as independent predictors of insulin resistance.
Keywords: hypertensionobesityinflammationinsulin resistanceatherosclerosis