Abstract
The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of obesity on renal functions and the possible relationship between TGF-β1 and obesity in hypertensive patients. Seventy newly diagnosed, hypertensive patients (male/female 36/34, aged 45.0 ± 8.0 years) and 30 (male/female 17/13, aged 41.8 ± 7.7 years) normotensive controls were included. Patients in both groups were analyzed for serum levels of glucose, creatinine, uric acid, lipids, and TGF-β1. A 24-hour urine sample was also obtained; creatinine clearance rate and urinary albumin excretion (UEA) were investigated. TGF-β1 levels were significantly higher (40.7 ± 13.6 versus 34.2 ± 12.1 pg/mL, P = 0.02), and creatinine clearance was significantly lower in patients compared with controls (98.9 ± 25.5 versus 124.5 ± 23.1 mL/min. per. 1.73 m2, P = 0.001). Serum TGF-β1 levels (45.2 ± 14 versis 38.0 ± 12.8 pg/mL, P = 0.03), creatinine clearance rates (109.8 29.9 versus 93.0 ± 20.8 mL/min. per. 1.73 m2, P = 0.001), and urinary albumin excretion (55.7 ± 62.0 versus 12.7 ± 12.6 mg/24 h, P = 0.002) were higher in obese hypertensive patients than in nonobese patients. In hypertensive patients, TGF-β1 levels correlated with body mass index (r = 0.296, P = 0.01) and creatinine clearance (r = 0.238, P = 0.04). The results suggest that increased body mass index is associated with increased creatinine clearance, urinary albumin excretion, and TGF-β1 levels in essential hypertension. In addition, TGF-β1 is positively correlated with body mass index and creatinine clearance in patients with essential hypertension.
