Association between serum level of TGFbeta-1, leptin, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and hypertension in chronic renal failure patients undergoing hemodialysis therapy

Abstract

Background Chronic inflammation in the arterial wallshould be considered as an important factor in developmentof atherogenesis and hypertension. The aim of thisstudy was to answer for a question whether increasedserum level of cytokines: TGF-b1, leptin and IL-6 inhemodialysed patients have an association with hypertension.

Material and methods In 33 hemodialysed patients (16males, 17 females at mean age 52.72 ± 9.35 years, meantime of hemodialysis therapy 33.12 ± 9.2 months) 24-hour blood pressure monitoring was assessed and bloodsamples were taken. Sera were analysed for: TGF-b1,IL-6, leptin and standard biochemical analysis. Patientswere divided in to subgroups: 13 patients (7 males, 6females, at mean age 55.46 ± 11.42 years, mean timeof hemodialysis therapy 33.8 ± 9.5 months) had normalblood pressure, 20 patients (11 males, 9 females, atmean age 50.95 ± 7.51 years, mean time of hemodialysistherapy 34.65 ± 8.6 months) had hypertension. Controlgroup was consisted of 30 healthy subjects at mean age48.27 ± 12.6 years in which 24-hour blood pressuremonitoring was done and sera were taken for followinganalysis: TGF-b1, IL-6, leptin and standard biochemicalanalysis.

Results Blood pressure was significantly higher(p < 0.001) in 20 patients (group 1) compared to 13 patients(group 2). Serum levels of TGF-b1, IL-6 and leptinwere significantly (p < 0.05) higher in 20 patients with hypertension.We obtained the following correlations: meansystolic blood pressure and TGF-b1 serum concentrationr = 0.365 (p < 0.04), and IL-6 serum level r = 0.501(p < 0.02), mean diastolic blood pressure and TGF-b1 serumconcentration r = 0.372 (p < 0.03) and leptin serumlevel r= 0.532 (p < 0.05).

Conclusions Increased serum levels of cytokines: TGF-b1, IL-6 and leptin in hemodialysed patients with hypertensionand obtained correlations between mean valuesof blood pressure and serum levels of analysed cytokinescould indicate the relation between hypertension and inflammatoryactivity.