title: Small artery structure and hypertension: adaptive changes and target organ damage.
abstract: 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.
authors.affiliation: The Cardiovascular Research Group, University of Manchester, UK.
authors.forename: Ashley S
authors.initials: AS
authors.lastname: Izzard
authors.forename: Damiano
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Rizzoni
authors.forename: Enrico
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Agabiti-Rosei
authors.forename: Anthony M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Heagerty
mesh_terms: 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