Purpose: To examined the possible correlations between large artery stiffening and plasma inflammatory markers such as interleukin-6 (IL-6), tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-α) and E-selectin plasma levels in essential hypertensive patients.

Methods: Our population of 148 newly diagnosed non-diabetic hypertensive patients [98 men, aged 49 years, office blood pressure (BP) = 150/97 mmHg] was divided into three groups according to carotid to femoral pulse wave velocity (PWV) values: Group A (PWV ⩽ 7.8 m/s, n = 55), group B (PWV = 7.9–8.7 m/s, n = 54) and group C (PWV > 8.7 m/s, n = 39). Moreover, venous blood samples were drawn for estimation of lipid profile and inflammatory markers levels.

Results: In the total population, PWV was correlated with office systolic BP (r = 0.221, p < 0.05) and TNF-α (r = 0.189, p < 0.05), while IL-6 was associated with body mass index (r = 0.175, p < 0.05) and office systolic BP (r = 0.226, p < 0.005). Moreover, TNF-α and E-selectin were related to body mass index (r = 0.314 and r = 0.274, respectively; p < 0.05 for both cases). Patients in group C exhibited higher levels of IL-6 compared to groups B and A (1.8±0.1 vs 1.3±0.5 vs 0.8±0.3 pg/ml, respectively; p < 0.005 for all), TNF-α (3.5±0.07 vs 2.5±0.1 vs 1.2±0.3 pg/ml, respectively; p < 0.0001 for all) and E-selectin (55.3±2.1 vs 48.7±2.4 vs 43.1±1.7 ng/ml, respectively; p < 0.05 for all). Analysis of covariance revealed that inflammatory markers values remained significantly different between groups after adjustment for confounding factors (p < 0.05).

Conclusions: In essential hypertension, there is an augmentation in IL-6, TNF-α and E-selectin values throughout increasing PWV tertiles. These findings suggest that arterial stiffening is closely related to subclinical inflammatory processes, in this setting.