<正>Objective: To explore the serum levels of adiponectin in patients with essential hypertension and the relation between adiponectin and blood pressure. Methods: Forty-five cases with essential hypertension and 43 healthy control subjects have been taken fasting blood samples for measurements of plasma glucose

plasma lipids

insulin

C-peptide

thyroid hormones

TNF-α

leptin and adiponectin. Glucose tolerance was assessed by 75-g oral glucose tolerance test. Results: The concentrations of adiponectin in cases with essential hypertension were significantly lower than those in the control group （4.15 ± 1.99 vs 7.04 ± 3.13 mg/ml

P = 0.000）. Pearson relation analysis showed that serum adiponectin concentrations were negatively and significantly correlated with body-mass index （ r = - 0. 274

P = 0. 038）

total cholesterol （r= -0.257

P = 0.048）in control groups

while adiponectin concentrations were negatively and significantly correlated with systolic blood pressure （r = - 0.356

P = 0.016）

triglycerid