Brainstem compression as a cause of neurogenic hypertension.
Primary or essential hypertension affects more than 50 million Americans, more than 6 million of whom cannot achieve adequate control of their condition with medication. The current neurophysiologic literature indicates that some forms of primary hypertension may be secondary to compression of the left rostral ventrolateral medulla near the root entry zones of cranial nerves 9 and 10 by arteries or veins. Surgical brainstem decompression may alleviate this hypertension or make it medically controllable. This paper reviews the experimental, anatomic, and clinical literature that supports the neurogenic theory of hypertension.
Horowitz
M B
MB
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Texas Southwesten Medical Center, 5323 Harry Hines Boulevard, Dallas, TX 75235-8855 USA.
D000818:Animals; D001921:Brain / Q000502:physiology*; D001933:Brain Stem / Q000502:physiology / Q000601:surgery; D002302:Cardiac Output / Q000502:physiology; D019299:Decompression, Surgical; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000601:surgery; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology