Tumor necrosis factor and interleukin-6 levels in hypertensive patients with and without left ventricular hypertrophy

The objective of this prospective study was to examine the association between serum levels of TNF (tumor-necrosis factor) and IL-6 (interleukin-6) and left ventricular mass in hypertensive patients. Hypertensive patients currently receiving medical therapy were eligible. All subjects underwent echo cardiography with measurements of left ventricular (LV) mass and ejection fraction (EF) and had serum levels of TNF and IL-6 measured by ELISA immunoassay. 35 subjects (20F, 15M; mean age 56.4 +/- 10.5yrs) were studied. 19 patients (54%) had elevated LV mass. Of these patients, 6 (32%) had detectable serum TNF levels and 6 (32%) detectable IL-6 levels. Of the 16 patients with LV mass within normal limits, 2 (14%) had detectable TNF levels and 1 (7%) had detectable IL-6 levels. (p=NS). Hypertensive patients with elevated LV mass do not consistently exhibit elevated cytokine levels when compared to those with normal LV mass.