ROLE OF ADIPONECTIN IN HYPERTENSION AND ITS RELATION TO INSULIN RESISTANCE

Hypertension is a major health problem in Egypt with prevalence rate of 26.3% among the adult population (>25 years). Its prevalence increases with aging, approximately 50% of Egyptian above the age of sixty years suffers from hypertensionAlmost 40% of essential hypertension patients have insulin resistant. Hyperinsulinemia, which compensates for insulin resistance, is thought to cause and maintain high blood pressure.Adiponectin, has been suggested to be involved in insulin resistance and development of atherosclerosis in obese and in diabetic individuals. It was found that its concentration is decreased in both conditions. Plasma adiponectin concentrations in humans are lower in obese than in non obese subjects, more in men than in women, and in patients with coronary artery disease, and diabetes mellitus type 2 than in healthy subjects.This study was aimed to examine adiponectin level in patients with essential hypertension, and to determine any relationships, if present, between adiponectin levels and insulin sensitivity.This study had been carried out in Internal Medicine Department, in Outpatient Clinic and Biochemistry Department, Zagazig University Hospitals. Seventy subjects were included in this study. They were divided into 3 groups ; Group І : Twenty healthy