Adipocytokines and High Blood Pressure in Mexican Children

Given that adipocytokines may play an important role in the pathophysiology of high blood pressure (HBP) and because related reports in children are scarce and controversial, we evaluated the relationship of leptin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-alpha, interleukin-6, adiponectin, and interferon-gamma with HBP. Materials and Methods. A total of 129 (53.8%) girls and 111 (46.2%) boys, with average ages of 10.8 +/- 0.9 and 10.6 +/- 1.0 years, respectively, were enrolled in a cross-sectional study. HBP was defined by systolic blood pressure (SBP) and/or diastolic blood pressure (DBP) between the 90th and 95th percentiles. A multivariate logistic regression backwards-stepwise analysis adjusted for body mass index, waist circumference, and triglyceride levels was performed to compute the association between adipocytokines and HBP. Results. Seventy-two (30.0%) participants showed HBP: 44 (61.1%) girls and 28 (38.9%) boys. Multivariate analysis showed that, irrespective of obesity, serum levels of adiponectin, but not those of other adipocytokines, are inversely associated with HBP (odds ratio 0.93; 95% CI 0.77 to 0.98, p = .04). Conclusions. Our results show that low serum adiponectin levels, but not those of other adipocytokines, are inversely associated with HBP; this association is independent of obesity.