Serum levels of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) are an independent determinant of insulin resistance in patients with essential hypertension.

We have previously found that serum level of pigment epithelium-derived factor (PEDF) is increased in proportion to the accumulation of the number of components of metabolic syndrome in general population. However, the link between PEDF and insulin resistance in hypertensive patients remains unclear. We investigated here whether serum PEDF level was associated with insulin resistance in hypertensive patients. Ninety-seven consecutive outpatients with essential hypertension underwent a complete history and physical examination, determination of blood chemistries, including serum PEDF. In multiple regression analyses, BMI, age (inversely) and PEDF were independently correlated with homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). When age- and sex-adjusted PEDF levels were stratified by HOMA-IR tertiles, a linear and significant trend was observed. These results demonstrated that serum level of PEDF was an independent determinant of HOMA-IR in patients with essential hypertension. PEDF may play a role in insulin resistance in hypertensive patients. Copyright (c) 2008 Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved.