Objective To investigate the association of endothelial lipase (EL) 584C/T polymorphism with essential hypertension (EH). Methods The EL 584C/T genotypes were detected using polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) analysis in 160 EH patients and 139 sex- and age-matched controls living in Changzhou region. Results The frequencies of the CC, CT and TT genotypes were respectively 56.3%, 42.5% and 1.1% in EH group, and 56.1%, 38.8% and 5.0% in control group, respectively. The frequency of T allele was 22.5% and 24.5% in EH and control groups, respectively. There was no significant difference between EH and control groups in genotypic and allelic frequencies. Logistic regression analysis showed that there was no significant correlation between the EL 584C/T gene polymorphism and EH after adjustment of traditional EH risk factors. There was no significant correlation between EL 584C/T genotypes and blood lipids levels. Conclusion There is no significant correlation of EL 584C/T polymorphism with Han nationality EH patients in Changzhou region.