title: Vascular inflammation and endothelial dysfunction in experimental hypertension.
abstract: Essential hypertension is characterized by increased peripheral vascular resistance to blood flow. The endothelium is a crucial regulator of vascular tone. Its function is impaired in patients with hypertension, with reduced vasodilation, increased vascular tone associated with a proinflammatory and prothrombotic state. Low-grade inflammation localized in vascular tissue is therefore recognized as an important contributor to the pathophysiology of hypertension, to the initiation and progression of atherosclerosis as well as to the development of cardiovascular diseases.
authors.affiliation: Cardiology Unit, Clinical and Molecular Medicine Department, Sant'Andrea Hospital, Sapienza University of Rome, Via di Grottarossa 1037/1039, 00189 Rome, Italy.
authors.forename: Carmine
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Savoia
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sada
authors.forename: Luigi
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zezza
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Pucci
authors.forename: Francesco Maria
authors.initials: FM
authors.lastname: Lauri
authors.forename: Alberto
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Befani
authors.forename: Alessandro
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Alonzo
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Volpe