Among 182 children with primary hypertension, the concentrations of serum TGF-β1 were higher in stage 2 hypertension than in stage 1 (47.3 (38.8, 52.5) vs. 46.0 (38.6, 48.2) ng/L, Z =  − 2.376; P = 0.018). The gene discussed is TGFB1; the disease is essential hypertension.