Drug mechanisms to help in managing resistant hypertension in obesity.
Obesity is a major risk factor for the development of hypertension. Because the prevalence of obesity is increasing worldwide, the prevalence of obesity hypertension is also increasing. Importantly, hypertension in obesity is commonly complicated by dyslipidemia and type 2 diabetes mellitus and hence imposes a high cardiovascular disease risk. Furthermore, obesity is strongly associated with resistant hypertension. Activation of the sympathetic nervous system and the renin-angiotensin system, leading to renal sodium and water retention, links obesity with hypertension. There is also evidence for the release of factors by visceral adipose tissue promoting excessive aldosterone production, and a more central role of aldosterone in obesity hypertension is emerging. Randomized studies evaluating the effect of different classes of antihypertensive agents in obesity hypertension are scarce, short-lasting, and small. Considering the emerging role of aldosterone in the pathogenesis of obesity hypertension, mineralocorticoid receptor antagonism may play a more central role in the pharmacologic treatment of obesity hypertension in the near future.
Division of Pharmacology, Vascular and Metabolic Diseases, Department of Internal Medicine, Erasmus MC, Room D432, 's Gravendijkwal 230, 3015CE, Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
Pieter M
PM
Jansen
Jan A H
JA
Danser
Wilko
W
Spiering
Anton H
AH
van den Meiracker
D000450:Aldosterone; D000959:Antihypertensive Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control; D008019:Life Style; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D009765:Obesity / Q000150:complications / Q000188:drug therapy*; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid / Q000187:drug effects; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System / Q000187:drug effects*; D012307:Risk Factors; D013564:Sympathetic Nervous System / Q000187:drug effects*; D017211:Treatment Failure
D000959:Antihypertensive Agents; D000451:Mineralocorticoid Receptor Antagonists; D018161:Receptors, Mineralocorticoid; D000450:Aldosterone