Both hypertension and obesity are speculated to stimulate inflammation process.
The aim of the study: Evaluation of selected inflammatory markers in obese hypertensives and estimation of their relationship to selected anthropometric and biochemical parameters. 32 patients with hypertension (group I), 34 patients with obesity and hypertension (group II) and 16 healthy volunteers (control) were studied. Percentage of fat content (%FAT) was estimated. Serum concentration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF-alpha), interleukins (IL-4, IL-6, IL-10), leptin, insulin were measured. Insulin resistance ratio (IRI/G) was calculated as an insulin: glucose ratio. Higher concentrations of TNF-alpha, IL-4, IL-6, IL-10, leptin, insulin, IRI/G ratio as compared to a control were found in both investigated groups. In group II higher TNF-alpha, IL-10, leptin, insulin and IRI/G as compared to group I were observed. In group II correlations between in (TNF-alpha) and BMI, %FAT, insulin, IRI/G ratio and SBP (systolic blood pressure) were found. BMI and TNF-alpha emerged as independent predictors of SBP.
Conclusions: 1. Hypertension is associated with increased level of inflammatory markers. 2. Obesity can aggravate inflammation in patients with hypertension. 3. TNF-alpha should be considered as a potential player in the state of insulin resistance in obese hypertensives. 4. Both BMI and TNF-alpha emerged as independent predictors of SBP.