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.