Background: The relationship between tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-related parameters and cardiorenal metabolic factors is still controversial in clinical hypertension.
Methods: Normotensive men (NT, n=60) and treated stage 2 and 3 essential hypertensive men (HT, n=89) were enrolled in this study. The relationship between TNF-related parameters and cardiorenal metabolic factors was examined in NT and HT, separately.
Results: HT showed higher rates of insulin resistance and enhanced chronic inflammation compared with NT. The levels of soluble TNF receptor 1 and 2 were significantly higher in HT than in NT, although TNF-α levels were unexpectedly lower in HT than in NT. Regression analysis indicated that the TNF-related parameters were closely linked with mild renal dysfunction both in NT and HT, and moderately related to chronic inflammation only in HT. HT taking inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system showed improved insulin resistance, but no difference in the TNF-related parameters.
Conclusion: These results suggest that the disturbed TNF system is closely linked with chronic inflammation rather than with insulin resistance in HT.