Hypertension, genotype and oral contraceptives.
Oral contraceptive-induced hypertension (OCIH) is a well-recognized phenomenon characterized by an increase in blood pressure levels after beginning estroprogestin therapy and a reduction to normal levels within 1 year after suspension of the therapy. The pathophysiology of this condition is still not understood: several lines of evidence indicate a role for a genetic susceptibility to the development of this disease. In this article, the epidemiology and the pathogenesis of OCIH are reviewed with particular emphasis on the genetic influence in light of the most recent studies in this field.
Mulatero
Paolo
P
Department of Medicine and Experimental Oncology, Hypertension Unit, San Vito Hospital, University of Torino, S. San Vito 34 10133 Torino, Italy. paolo.mulatero@libero.it
Morra di Cella
Stefania
S
Veglio
Franco
F
D000818:Animals; D003276:Contraceptives, Oral / Q000009:adverse effects*; D015195:Drug Design; D020869:Gene Expression Profiling; D020022:Genetic Predisposition to Disease; D005838:Genotype; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000235:genetics*; D020411:Oligonucleotide Array Sequence Analysis; D011110:Polymorphism, Genetic; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000235:genetics
D003276:Contraceptives, Oral