Objective:Hepatocyte growth factor(HGF) speculated to be an endothelial-specific growth factor which protects or repaire the vascular endothelial cells. To test the serum HGF level might be elevated in response to hypertension-induced endothelial cell damage, we measured serum HGF concentrations in normotensive and hypertensive subjects without liver, kidney and other complications.Methods:Eighteen male hypertensive patients and thirteen male normotensive subjects were recruited. All antihypertensive agents were stopped for 2 weeks before the study. The serum HGF concentrations were measured by a specific enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). Results:Serum HGF concentrations were 0.32±0.13 ng/ml in normotensive subjects and 0.37±0.27 ng/ml in hypertensive patients. No significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05) was found. Systolic, mean and diastolic blood pressure did not show any correlation with serum HGF concentrations.Conclusions:This study showed that serum HGF levels did not be increased in male patients with mild to moderate hypertension. Although local HGF is produced rapidly because of the damage of endothelial cells by high blood pressure, the circulating level of HGF did not represent the local changes of HGF production.