[Role of hypertension in atherosclerosis].
Hypertension is frequently associated with clinical cardiovascular complications due to atherosclerosis. However, several previous studies have showed that incidence of cardiovascular complication due to atherosclerosis hypertensives do not decrease even when the blood pressure was well controlled. The effects of hypertension on atherogenesis appears to be mainly due to two factors: (1) The mechanical stress which induces the change of cell functions of arterial wall cells such as endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells and extracellular matrix, (2) Vasoactive substances, such as angiotensin and endothelin, which may plays a role for smooth muscle cell proliferation. The tropic changes in smooth muscle cells induced by above two factors in hypertension might reflect common alternations in cellular reactivity as observed in atherosclerosis. If so, hypertension and atherosclerosis could be regarded as two effects with one underlying cause.
Takahashi
M
M
Department of cardiology, Jichi Medical School.
Ikeda
U
U
Shimada
K
K
D000818:Animals; D001161:Arteriosclerosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002455:Cell Division; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology; D012307:Risk Factors; D013314:Stress, Mechanical