title: Autonomic and inflammatory consequences of posttraumatic stress disorder and the link to cardiovascular disease.
abstract: Stress- and anxiety-related disorders are on the rise in both military and general populations. Over the next decade, it is predicted that treatment of these conditions, in particular, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), along with its associated long-term comorbidities, will challenge the health care system. Multiple organ systems are adversely affected by PTSD, and PTSD is linked to cancer, arthritis, digestive disease, and cardiovascular disease. Evidence for a strong link between PTSD and cardiovascular disease is compelling, and this review describes current clinical data linking PTSD to cardiovascular disease, via inflammation, autonomic dysfunction, and the renin-angiotensin system. Recent clinical and preclinical evidence regarding the role of the renin-angiotensin system in the extinction of fear memory and relevance in PTSD-related immune and autonomic dysfunction is also addressed.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern, Dallas, Texas;
authors.forename: Chevelle
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Brudey
authors.affiliation: Renal Division, Department of Medicine, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, and Research Service Line, Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Decatur, Georgia;
authors.forename: Jeanie
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC.
authors.forename: Jan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Wiaderkiewicz
authors.affiliation: Howard University College of Medicine Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Washington, DC; and the.
authors.forename: Ihori
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Kobayashi
authors.affiliation: Howard University College of Medicine Center for Clinical and Translational Research, Washington, DC; and the.
authors.forename: Thomas A
authors.initials: TA
authors.lastname: Mellman
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology and Physiology, George Washington University, Washington, DC pmarvar@gwu.edu.
authors.forename: Paul J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Marvar
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001341:Autonomic Nervous System / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D002318:Cardiovascular Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D007249:Inflammation / Q000209:etiology* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism*; D011379:Prognosis; D012084:Renin-Angiotensin System; D012307:Risk Factors; D013313:Stress Disorders, Post-Traumatic / Q000150:complications* / Q000276:immunology / Q000378:metabolism / Q000503:physiopathology
chemical_list: D018836:Inflammation Mediators
keywords: cardiovascular disease; posttraumatic stress disorder; renin-angiotensin system