Vascular compliance and arterial calcification: impact on blood pressure reduction.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this article is to review the relationship between vascular calcification and difficult to control hypertension. This does not address antihypertensive treatment of drug resistant hypertension per se.


RESULTS
Vascular calcification occurs in a variety of common hypertension scenarios. Basic mechanisms of how and why vessels calcify are reviewed including new genetic insights. The potential for contributing to or improving calcification through drug therapies for nonhypertensive disorders is reviewed.


CONCLUSIONS
Vascular calcification is common and easily recognized. Studies that target its clinical consequences (arterial stiffness) as primary treatment goals are needed.
Townsend
Raymond R
RR
University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania 19104, USA. townsend@mail.med.upenn.edu
D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology*; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000503:physiopathology*; D002114:Calcinosis / Q000209:etiology / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000628:therapy; D003187:Compliance; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology; D014652:Vascular Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology*