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Inflammatory activation and left ventricular mass in essential hypertension
Esther Roselló-Lletí1, Miguel Rivera, Luís Martínez-Dolz
1Cardiocirculatory Unit, Research Center, Hospital Universitario La Fe, Valencia, Spain.
American Journal of Hypertension
|March 25, 2009
Summary
Inflammation, indicated by elevated cytokine levels, is linked to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) in hypertensive patients. Soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor 1 (sTNF-R1) independently predicts LVH development.
Area of Science:
- Cardiology
- Hypertension Research
- Inflammation Biology
Background:
- Inflammation is a known risk factor for hypertension.
- Inflammatory cytokines may contribute to left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH).
- Essential hypertension (HT) patients require assessment for LVH predictors.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the association between cytokine levels and LVH in hypertensive patients.
- To determine the predictive role of specific cytokines for LVH.
- To investigate soluble tumor necrosis factor (TNF) receptors, IL-6, and IL-1ra in HT with LVH.
Main Methods:
- 251 asymptomatic hypertensive patients were studied (142 with LVH, 109 without).
- Evaluations included physical examination, lab tests, and echo-Doppler.
- Plasma levels of sTNF-R1, sTNF-R2, IL-6, and IL-1ra were measured.
Main Results:
- Patients with LVH exhibited higher inflammatory cytokine levels (P < 0.001).
- sTNF-R1 was an independent predictor of left ventricular mass index (LVMI) (P < 0.01).
- sTNF-R1 demonstrated the highest predictive area under the curve (0.71 ± 0.03) for LVH detection.
Conclusions:
- Cytokine levels correlate significantly with LVMI in hypertensive individuals.
- sTNF-R1 is identified as an independent predictor of LVMI.
- Plasma sTNF-R1 concentration may serve as a predictive factor for LVH in essential HT.
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