Leptin, Interleukin 6, and Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor as Potential Predictors of Primary Hypertension in Children and Adolescents with Obesity

The increasing prevalence of obesity-related primary arterial hypertension (PAH) in the pediatric population emphasizes the need to develop new biomarkers that can aid in clinical practice for prevention or early diagnosis of the cardiovascular disease. The objective of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between selected adipokines, cytokines, and blood pressure (BP) values in children with obesity. A total of 78 children participated in the study: 60 children with obesity (study group) and 18 children with normal weight (control group). Blood pressure was measured according to guidelines. Serum levels of metabolic and inflammatory markers, including leptin, adiponectin, resistin, ghrelin, interleukin 6 (IL-6), interleukin 10 (IL-10), tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), and insulin were determined using multiplex immunoassays. Statistical analysis included correlation and ROC tests to identify potential predictors of PAH. The study group had significantly higher systolic and diastolic BP compared to the control group (p < 0.0001). Serum levels of leptin, IL-6, VEGF, insulin, and resistin were increased in the study group. Leptin, IL-6 and resistin correlated positively with BP values (p < 0.05), while ghrelin and adiponectin correlated negatively. ROC analysis identified leptin, IL-6, and VEGF as the most promising biomarkers for predicting PAH. The results confirm the role of adipokines and cytokines in the pathogenesis of PAH. The assessment of adipokine and cytokine profiles complements traditional anthropometric parameters such as BMI in assessing cardiovascular risk. Leptin, IL-6, and VEGF presented the strongest correlation with hypertension, suggesting their potential in future diagnostic and preventive strategies.