Plasma CT-1 was increased (P<0.001) in hypertensives compared with normotensives. The value of CT-1 was higher (P<0.001) in hypertensives with LVH than in hypertensives without LVH. Some 31% of patients without LVH exhibited values of CT-1 above the upper normal limit in normotensives. A direct correlation was found between CT-1 and left ventricular mass index (r = 0.319, P<0.001) in all subjects