Current Hypertension Reviews - Volume 3, Issue 2, 2007

Stroke is the third most-frequent cause of death after cancer and heart disease in developed countries, and is one of the most common reasons for developing cognitive impairment and vascular dementia. Hypertension is known to be the most important factor for developing stroke and vascular dementia. In addition, the presence of cerebral white matter lesions (WML) is an important prognostic factor for the development of str Read More

Classification of hypertensive subjects according to different blood pressure patterns : i.e sustained vs isolated clinic hypertension (ICH) , dipping vs non dipping is now regarded as a useful mean for a more precise individual risk stratification and therapeutic making decisions. However, this subdivision is routinely based on a single ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), despite the well-known day-to-day variability in Read More

Clinical and autopsy studies have suggested that patients with hypothyroidism have more advanced coronary atherosclerosis. The accelerated atherosclerosis has been explained by increases in low density lipoprotein cholesterol, blood pressure and newer risk factors such as homocysteine, C-reactive protein and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 in hypothyroid state. In addition, recent studies have suggested that thyroid hor Read More

The primacy of angiotensin II (Ang II) as the critical component mediating the multiple biological actions of the renin angiotensin system is undergoing a critical revision given the growth of the biochemical and physiological evidence demonstrating the existence of other proteins that, within the system, lead to the formation of alternate forms of angiotensin peptides. The persistent notion that Ang II is at the center of t Read More

Cardiovascular reactivity, an abrupt increase in blood pressure and heart rate in response to negative emotional stress is a risk factor for hypertension and heart disease. Brain angiotensin II (Ang II) has been recognized as an important regulator of cardiovascular reactivity. Apart from threatening events, exposure to appetitive stimuli is capable of inducing a distinct, sympathetically mediated rise in blood pressure in bo Read More

Heavy alcohol use causes or exacerbates a number of medical conditions. In particular, hypertension (HTN), the most common primary diagnosis in primary care, is particularly alcohol-sensitive. In patients with HTN, excessive alcohol use (3 or more drinks a day) can interfere with successful blood pressure control and facilitate disease complications. Excessive alcohol use is one of 6 major causes of treatment-resistant HTN. T Read More

Bone metabolism is closely regulated by hormones and cytokines, which have effects on both bone resorption and deposition. Since renin-angiotensin system (RAS) has been known to play an important role to regulate remodeling in several tissues, we focused on the potential role of RAS in bone metabolism. It is known that the receptors of angiotensin II are expressed in culture osteoclasts and osteoblasts, and angiot Read More

Many individuals do not appear to have matching chronological and biological age, as evaluated by their general outlook, physical examination, or clinical investigations. One aspect of this is the concept of early vascular ageing. This could be useful both in research and clinical practice to understand and treat the increased cardiovascular risk in many patients, e.g. with hypertension in poor control. New ways of measuring Read More

Hypertensive heart disease (HHD) encompasses a spectrum of abnormalities resulting from structural and functional adaptations to chronic pressure overload. The clinical manifestations of HHD range from asymptomatic left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) to symptomatic heart failure. HHD has been associated with increased risk of cardiovascular morbidity and all cause mortality. However, regression of LVH by antihyp Read More

Refractory or resistant hypertension, defined as the failure to control systolic (<140 mmHg) and/or diastolic blood pressure (< 90 mmHg) despite the use of three or more different classes of antihypertensive agents, is a common problem in clinical practice. Several factors induce treatment resistance, especially secondary hypertension, such as primary aldosteronism. Some authors have argued for a direct role of aldosteron Read More

Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is a potent angiogenic factor that has multiple effects on the vascular endothelium and many other cells. Many cancers utilize VEGF for proliferation, progression and metastasis, making it a logical target of anti-tumor therapy. Numerous clinical oncology trials have employed this therapeutic approach to effectively treat various malignancies. Hypertension has emerged as one of the most Read More