Relationship of serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels with blood pressure and carotid atherosclerosis in elderly patients with essential hypertension

Objective To investigate the relationship of serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels with blood pressure and carotid atherosclerosis in elderly patients with essential hypertension.Methods Totally218 elderly patients with essential hypertension diagnosed according to WHO/ISH standard were enrolled in the study.Intima-media thickness(IMT) and plaque formation in common carotid artery were examined by Doppler color ultrasonography and the degree of carotid atherosclerosis was classified by plaque index(PI).Serum TNF-a and IL-6 were measured.Results The thickness of IMT and serum TNF-a and IL-6 levels were increased with the elevation of blood pressure in hypertensive patients(P0.05).Serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels were significantly higher in hypertensive patients with carotid atherosclerosis(CA) than those without CA(P0.05).Serum TNF-α and IL-6 levels were higher in patients with carotid plaques than those of increased IMT and normal IMT(P 0.05 and P 0.01);and increased with the increasing of carotid artery PI(P 0.05).Conclusion Serum TNF-a and IL-6 levels are associated with carotid atherosclerosis in elderly patients with hypertension,indicating that inhibition of inflammatory response may prevent artery atherosclerosis in hypertensive patients.