Purpose: To examined the plausible correlations between hs-CRP levels, adiponectin and arterial stiffness in essential hypertensive patients.

Methods: In 148 newly diagnosed untreated non-diabetic essential hypertensive patients [98 men, mean age = 49 years, office BP = 150/97 mmHg], aortic stiffness was evaluated on the basis of carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV), by means of a computerized method (Complior SP). Venous blood samples were drawn for estimation of lipid profile and hs-CRP and adiponectin levels. All subjects according to hs-CRP values were divided into group A (hs-CRP ⩽ 1.29mg/l), group B (hs-CRP = 1.3–2.39mg/l) and group C (hs-CRP > 2.39 mg/l).

Results: Patients in group A (n = 51) compared to subjects in group B (n = 45) and C (n = 52) had lower office systolic BP and left ventricular mass index (p < 0.005 for all cases), while groups did not differ regarding lipid levels (p = NS). In the entire population, hs-CRP was positively associated with body mass index (r = 0.32, p < 0.001) and c-f PWV (0.412, p < 0.0001), while it was negatively correlated with adiponectin (r = −0.231, p = 0.005). Furthermore, patients in group C exhibited lower levels of adiponectin compared to group B and A (7.0±4.0 vs 8.9±5.1 vs 9.4±4.9 μg/ml, respectively; p < 0.05 for all cases) and more augmented PWV values (8.6±1.6 vs 8.2±0.9 vs 7.8±1.2 m/s, p < 0.05, for all cases). Analysis of covariance revealed that adiponectin and PWV values remained different between groups after adjustment for confounding factors (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: Low-grade inflammation is associated in a graded fashion with proatherogenic processes linked with hypoadiponectinemia and arterial stiffening, even in the early stages of essential hypertension.