title: Inflammation and apoptosis in hypertension. Relevance of the extent of target organ damage.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate the relationship between inflammatory and apoptotic parameters and the severity and extent of target organ damage in patients with essential hypertension.
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 159 consecutive patients with treated essential hypertension. An exhaustive evaluation of damage to heart, kidney, and blood vessels was performed and plasma levels of inflammatory (interleukin 6 and soluble receptor of tumor necrosis factor-alpha type 2) and apoptotic markers (soluble receptor of tumor necrosis factor-alpha type 1 and soluble Fas receptor) were determined. Patients were categorized into four groups: a) no organ damage (33 patients); b) 1 organ damaged (52 patients); c) 2 organs damaged (44 patients), and d) 3 organs damaged (30 patients).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Serum levels of interleukin 6, soluble receptor of tumor necrosis factor-alpha type 1 and soluble receptor of tumor necrosis factor-alpha type 2 were higher in patients with target organ damage than in hypertensive patients without organ damage. Increasing levels of these molecules were progressively associated with an increase in the number of organs damaged, and the highest levels were observed in the group with damage to 3 organs (heart, kidney, and blood vessels). There were no differences in soluble Fas receptor levels between groups. Logistic regression analysis showed that age, smoking, diabetes mellitus, abdominal circumference, interleukin 6, and soluble receptor of tumor necrosis factor-alpha type 1 were independently related to the number of target organs damaged.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Extensive hypertensive disease with involvement of more target organs was associated with greater inflammatory and apoptotic activation in these hypertensive patients.
authors: Unidad de Hipertensión Arterial, Servicio de Cardiología, Hospital Universitario de San Juan, Sant Joan d́Alacant, Alicante, Spain. pedromorillas@teleline.es
authors: Pedro
authors: P
authors: Morillas
authors: Helder
authors: H
authors: de Andrade
authors: Jesus
authors: J
authors: Castillo
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Quiles
authors: Vicente
authors: V
authors: Bertomeu-González
authors: Alberto
authors: A
authors: Cordero
authors: Estefanía
authors: E
authors: Tarazón
authors: Esther
authors: E
authors: Roselló
authors: Manuel
authors: M
authors: Portolés
authors: Miguel
authors: M
authors: Rivera
authors: Vicente
authors: V
authors: Bertomeu-Martínez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D055109:Ankle Brachial Index; D017209:Apoptosis / Q000502:physiology*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D059168:Carotid Intima-Media Thickness; D004452:Echocardiography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology*; D007249:Inflammation / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers