The role of the RAS in programming of adult hypertension.
The aetiology of cardiovascular disease originally included two components: a genetic component and an environmental or lifestyle component. Increasing epidemiologic evidence has been accumulating during the last decades indicating the importance of a third component: the influence of the environment during foetal development. Poor living conditions resulted in a high infant mortality and influenced the incidence of cardiovascular diseases in adulthood despite better living conditions (A. Forsdahl. Br J Prev Soc Med 1977; 31, 91-95). An association between pre-natal growth pattern and the rate of death from cardiovascular disease in adulthood was reported (D.J. Barker, P.D. Winter, C. Osmond, B. Margetts & S.J. Simmonds. Lancet 1989; 2, 577-580). Men from Hartfordshire (UK), born between 1911 and 1930 were investigated. The investigations showed that men with the lowest weight at birth and at 1 year of age had the highest risks of death from cardiovascular disease (D.J. Barker, P.D. Winter, C. Osmond, B. Margetts & S.J. Simmonds. Lancet 1989; 2, 577-580). These findings suggested that factors in the perinatal environment could programme an individual for later risk of development of cardiovascular disease compared with someone born with a normal weight. Numerous studies have since confirmed these initial findings of an inverse relationship between early growth pattern and cardiovascular disease in adulthood.
Rasch
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Electron Microscopy Laboratory, Institute of Experimental Clinical Research, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark.
Skriver
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Woods
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D000818:Animals; D004044:Dietary Proteins / Q000008:administration & dosage; D005314:Embryonic and Fetal Development / Q000502:physiology; D006133:Growth Substances / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000196:embryology*; D007668:Kidney / Q000196:embryology; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000502:physiology*; D012307:Risk Factors
D004044:Dietary Proteins; D006133:Growth Substances