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(Hypertension. 2007;49:e19.)
© 2007 American Heart Association, Inc.

Letters to the Editor

Response to Interleukin-6 Antagonists for the Management of Hypertension

James M. Luther

Divisions of Nephrology and Hypertension, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn

Nancy J. Brown

Division of Clinical Pharmacology, Vanderbilt University Medical Center, Nashville, Tenn

Our study tested the hypothesis that angiotensin II induced inflammation, and particularly interleukin-6 production, in humans through a mineralocorticoid receptor–dependent mechanism.^1,2 The writers suggest a causative link between interleukin-6 and resistant hypertension; recent studies showing a relationship between increased inflammatory biomarkers and the development of hypertension also suggest such a link.³ Proof-of-concept studies are needed to determine whether treatment with an interleukin-6 receptor antagonist reduces blood pressure and whether such an effect can offset potential adverse effects on serum lipids.⁴ However, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonists have proven to reduce mortality in patients with heart failure⁵ and are proving effective in the treatment of resistant hypertension.⁶

	Acknowledgments

 
Disclosures

None.

	References

Top References

 

1. Luther JM, Gainer JV, Murphey LJ, Yu C, Vaughan DE, Morrow JD, Brown NJ. Angiotensin II induces IL-6 in humans through a mineralocorticoid receptor-dependent mechanism. Hypertension. 2006; 48: 1050–1057.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
2. Kapoor S. Interleukin-6 antagonists for the management of hypertension. Hypertension. 2007; 49: e18.[Free Full Text]
3. Sesso HD, Buring JE, Rifai N, Blake GJ, Gaziano JM, Ridker PM. C-reactive protein and the risk of developing hypertension. JAMA. 2003; 290: 2945–2951.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
4. Maini RN, Taylor PC, Szechinski J, Pavelka K, Broll J, Balint G, Emery P, Raemen F, Petersen J, Smolen J, Thomson D, Kishimoto T. Double-blind randomized controlled clinical trial of the IL-6 receptor antagonist, tocilizumab, in European patients with rheumatoid arthritis who had an incomplete response to methotrexate. Arthritis Rheum. 2006; 54: 2817–2829.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
5. Pitt B, Zannad F, Remme WJ, Cody R, Castaigne A, Perez A, Palensky J, Wittes J. The effect of spironolactone on morbidity and mortality in patients with severe heart failure. Randomized Aldactone Evaluation Study Investigators. N Engl J Med. 1999; 341: 709–717.[Abstract/Free Full Text]
6. Nishizaka MK, Zaman MA, Calhoun DA. Efficacy of low-dose spironolactone in subjects with resistant hypertension. Am J Hypertens. 2003; 16: 925–930.[CrossRef][Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]

This Article Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 49/3/e19    most recent 01.HYP.0000257806.83296.e4v1 Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Luther, J. M. Articles by Brown, N. J. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Luther, J. M. Articles by Brown, N. J. Related Collections Other hypertension