OBJECTIVETo investigate the association between serum resistin concentration and large arterial elasticity in patients with essential hypertension (EH).

METHODS271 recruited subjects were divided into the control group (n = 134) and EH group (n = 137). Blood pressure, waist circumference, hip, body mass index (BMI) were measured. Serum resistin concentration was assessed by enzyme immunoassay, fasting serum insulin and TNF-alpha were measured using radioimmunity kits. Insulin resistance was evaluated by insulin resistance index (HOMA-IR). Brachial ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) was tested by the full-automatic arteriosclerosis diagnostic instrument.

RESULTS(1) The serum resistin concentration, baPWV and TNF-alpha were significantly increased in EH group compared to the control group [(0.65 +/- 0.12) ng/ml vs (0.59 +/- 0.13) ng/ml; (1513.24 +/- 182.30) cm/s vs (1301.69 +/- 151.15) cm/s; (5.69 +/- 1.98) ng/ml vs (3.83 +/- 2.38) ng/ml; all P < 0.01]. (2) Pearson correlation analysis showed that resistin was positively correlated with baPWV, TNF-alpha. and HOMA-IR in EH group (r = 0.219, r = 0.212, r = 0.183, P < 0.05 respectively); partial correlation analysis revealed that resistin was positively correlated with baPWV and TNF-alpha (r = 0.238, P < 0.01; r = 0.207, P < 0.05), but not with HOMA-IR. (3) Multivariate regression analysis showed that SBP, age, TNF-alpha, resistin were risk factors of impaired baPWV in EH group (R(2) = 0.368, P < 0.01).

CONCLUSIONLarge arterial elasticity was decreased in proportion to increasing serum resistin level in hypertensive patients.