title: The microcirculation and essential hypertension.
abstract: Essential hypertension is characterized by a progressive increase of the mean arterial pressure paralleled by a concomitant increase in the total peripheral resistance. This elevated resistance is the consequence of (a) a decreased internal diameter, (b) an increased wall-to-lumen ratio or (c) a decreased number of small arteries or arterioles. A considerable part of the elevated vascular resistance is determined at the microcirculatory level. This paper reviews the studies performed to unravel the resistance-elevating mechanisms in the microvasculature of different tissues. Furthermore the possible role of the microcirculation in the pathogenesis of essential hypertension is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Draaijer
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Le Noble
authors.forename: K M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Leunissen
authors.forename: H A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Struyker-Boudier
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology