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Lowering of blood pressure leads to decreased circulating interleukin-6 in hypertensive subjects

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 19, pages 457–462 (2005)Cite this article

Abstract

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), the major proinflammatory cytokine, has been described to be associated with the hypertensive and atherosclerotic states. We aimed to explore whether the concentration of circulating IL-6 and adhesion molecules could be modified by decreasing blood pressure in hypertensive subjects. A total of 30 subjects (18 men), aged 34–48 years, were enrolled in this study, 17 hypertensive never-treated patients (HTA) and 13 normotensive subjects (C). HTA subjects were treated with irbesartan, 150–300 mg/day for 3 months, and serum IL-6, vascular cell adhesion molecule-1, intercellular adhesion molecule-1, sP-selectin, sE-selectin and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 were measured at 0 and 12 weeks. The two study groups were similar in age, body mass index (BMI) and gender. At baseline, circulating IL-6 levels, but not adhesion molecules, were significantly associated with systolic blood pressure (r=0.41; P=0.03) and BMI (r=0.53; P=0.005). Systolic and diastolic blood pressure decreased significantly (P<0.01) in parallel to serum IL-6 levels (from 3.72±0.82 to 3.23±0.19 pg/ml, P=0.02) reaching a similar concentration to normotensive patients (3.33±0.3 pg/ml) after treatment with irbesartan. No significant changes were observed in any other of the tested parameters. In conclusion, the treatment of high blood pressure lowers circulating IL-6 in young hypertensive patients.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Dr J Roca-Antonio and Dr JA González-Ares for statistical and epidemiological analysis. We also acknowledge J Massa and Dr I Caballe for her work in laboratory analysis and A Gibert and E Cata for recruitment of patients. This investigation was supported by a grant by PN/SAF-2000/0174, BMS and FIC, and by a grant from the FIS of the Instituto de Salud Carlos III, Red de Grupos RGTO (G03/028) and G03/212, Madrid, Spain.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Cardiology Unit, Hospital de Blanes, Corporació de Salut del Maresme i La Selva, Girona, Spain

    G Vázquez-Oliva, A Zamora & M Vilaseca

  2. Section of Diabetes, Endocrinology and Nutrition, Hospital Universitari de Girona ‘Dr Josep Trueta’, Girona, Spain

    J M Fernández-Real

  3. Cardiovascular Research Center, ICCC-CSIC, Hospital de Sant Pau, Barcelona, Spain

    L Badimón

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  1. G Vázquez-Oliva
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  2. J M Fernández-Real
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  3. A Zamora
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  4. M Vilaseca
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  5. L Badimón
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Correspondence to G Vázquez-Oliva.

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Vázquez-Oliva, G., Fernández-Real, J., Zamora, A. et al. Lowering of blood pressure leads to decreased circulating interleukin-6 in hypertensive subjects. J Hum Hypertens 19, 457–462 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jhh.1001845

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