The microcirculation and essential hypertension.
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.
Draaijer
P
P
Department of Internal Medicine, University Hospital Maastricht, The Netherlands.
Le Noble
J L
JL
Leunissen
K M
KM
Struyker-Boudier
H A
HA
D000818:Animals; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000209:etiology*; D008833:Microcirculation / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology