Background and Objects Elevated blood pressure causes a change in vascular remodelling and arterial stiffeness. Dynamic development of the inflammatory reaction may play a role in the early increase of blood pressure. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) which has a chemotactic effect on monocytes/macrophages, is an initial factor of inflammation. However, whether monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1) is altered in the change of large arterial structure and function in prehypertensive subjects has been incompletely investigated.

Method According to the criteria of JNC7, 160 subjects were divided into three groups: (1) normotensive group (n=57), (2) prehypertensive group (n=50) and (3) hypertensive group (n=53). Brachium-ankle pulse wave velocity (BaPWV) was measured by an automatic waveform analyser (Form PWV/ABI) and carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) was determined ultrasonographically. MCP-1 mRNA level were obtained by real time RT-PCR.

Result In prehypertensives, MCP-1, baPWV and IMT levels are higher than that in normotensives (p<0.01) and lower than that in hypertensives (p<0.01). MCP-1 mRNA level correlated linearly and significantly with baPWV and IMT (p<0.01), even after adjustments for confounding variables.

Conclusions Large artery remodelling has been found in prehypertensive subjects. PWV and IMT were closely related to the level of blood pressure. MCP-1 may play a role structural and functional vascular changes in prehypertensive subjects.