title: Pathophysiology of hypertension: interactions between macro and microvascular alterations through endothelial dysfunction.
abstract: Hypertension is a multifactorial systemic chronic disorder through functional and structural macrovascular and microvascular alterations. Macrovascular alterations are featured by arterial stiffening, disturbed wave reflection and altered central to peripheral pulse pressure amplification. Microvascular alterations, including altered wall-to-lumen ratio of larger arterioles, vasomotor tone abnormalities and network rarefaction, lead to disturbed tissue perfusion and susceptibility to ischemia. Central arterial stiffness and microvascular alterations are common denominators of organ damages. Vascular alterations are intercorrelated, amplifying the haemodynamic load and causing further damage in the arterial network. A plausible precursor role of vascular alterations in incident hypertension provides new insights for preventive and therapeutic strategies targeting macro and microvasculature. Cumulative metabolic burden and oxidative stress lead to chronic endothelial injury, promoting structural and functional vascular alterations, especially in the microvascular network. Pathophysiology of hypertension may then be revisited, based on both macrovascular and microvascular alterations, with a precursor role of endothelial dysfunction for the latter.
authors.affiliation: aDiagnosis and Therapeutics Centre, Hypertension and Cardiovascular Prevention Unit, Hôtel-Dieu Hospital bPARCC, INSERM U970, and Blood and Vessels Institute, Lariboisière Hospital, Paris, France.
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Yannoutsos
authors.forename: Bernard I
authors.initials: BI
authors.lastname: Levy
authors.forename: Michel E
authors.initials: ME
authors.lastname: Safar
authors.forename: Gerard
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Slama
authors.forename: Jacques
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Blacher
mesh_terms: D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D055806:Microvessels / Q000503:physiopathology; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D059289:Vascular Stiffness