Assessment of interleukins 1 and 6 in hypertensive subjects

Abstract

Hypertension has been the most frequent non-communicable disease and the most routinely diagnosed cardiovascular disorder in Nigeria. It has been linked to various diseases and complications. Therefore, the study assessed interleukin (IL) 1, 6 and anthropometric parameters in hypertensive subjects. A total of ninety subjects were investigated; thirty hypertensive subjects on antihypertensive therapy, thirty hypertensive subjects not on therapy and thirty control subjects without hypertension. Blood pressure was measured using sphygmomanometer (Omros, Japan) while body mass index (BMI) was determined by using the formula: weight/height (kg/m2 ). Interleukin 1 and 6 were determined using enzyme linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) technique. The systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, IL-1 was significantly higher (P<0.05) in hypertensive subjects on antihypertensive agents and those not on antihypertensive agents compared with the control. There was no significant correlation between IL-1, IL-6 and anthropometric parameters (P>0.05) but IL-1 was significantly increased in females compared with male subjects. The study concluded that IL-1 and IL-6 are increased during hypertension. Thus, the parameters may be used in the assessment and monitoring of cases of hypertension so as to prevent development of inflammatory conditions in hypertensive subjects. 

Key words: IL-1, IL-6, blood pressure, BMI, hypertension.