Small artery structure and hypertension: adaptive changes and target organ damage.
Hypertension is known to be associated with an increase in the wall/lumen ratio (W/L) of the resistance arteries. Growth, eutrophic remodelling and changes in arterial distensibility can all contribute to an increase W/L. Wall stress may stimulate growth, whereas remodelling and/or reduced distensibility may be the result of prolonged contraction. Impaired or overwhelmed pressure-induced myogenic constriction, causing increased wall stress, may explain the small artery growth seen in diabetes and secondary hypertension, respectively. We find that small artery growth is a greater predictor of cardiovascular events than an increased W/L.
Izzard
Ashley S
AS
The Cardiovascular Research Group, University of Manchester, UK.
Rizzoni
Damiano
D
Agabiti-Rosei
Enrico
E
Heagerty
Anthony M
AM
D000222:Adaptation, Physiological; D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011379:Prognosis; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000502:physiology