The observation of increased blood interleukin 1ß levels in subjects with hypertension is a finding that raises the hypothesis that the immune mechanisms may be involved in the atherogenic cascade . Our aim in this study was to investigate the possible interrelations between blood pressure, lipid profile and IL-1ß to clarify the possible participation of this cytokine in the cascade phenomena presented during the process of essential hypertension (EH) such as atherogenesis. 28 hypertensive patients and 10 healthy volunteers served as control matched for age and sex were included. IL-1ß (enzyme immunoassay), total cholesterol , triglycerides, high and low density lipoprotein cholesterol were estimated. Significant elevation of IL- 1ß in hypertensive patients in comparison to the control was found with positive correlation between IL- 1ß and diastolic. Systolic and the mean Blood pressure r=0.16, 0.046 and 0.28 respectively . Also the study showed positive correlation between IL-1ß and body mass index (r=0.42), serum cholesterol and LDL cholesterol and negative one with TG while no correlation was found with HDL cholesterol TG. Elevated IL-1ß levels in subjects with EH may be related causally to the role of immunologic mechanisms in the development of EH and even to the atherogenic cascade.Thus we can suggest that the presence of high levels of IL-1ß may be an additional risk factor for atherogenesis in patients with EH