title: Prehypertension: Defining the Transitional Phenotype.
abstract: More than a simple "transitional stage" defined by covenanted cut points of systolic pressure from 120 to 139 mm of mercury (mm Hg) or a diastolic pressure from 80 to 89 mm Hg, prehypertension should be referred to as a categorical term that defines a specific phenotype in the progression from the "absence of disease" to clinically overt disease. While the currently utilized definition of prehypertension stresses the use of blood pressure cut points to establish the diagnosis, it is of relevance to direct our attention to the structural and functional hemodynamic alterations that occur in response to the two cardinal abnormalities in the development of prehypertension and hypertension: autonomic dysfunction and arterial remodeling. Our current review addresses these aspects of the pathophysiology or prehypertension on its progression to hypertension and suggests a new approach to its classification.
authors.affiliation: Tulane University School of Medicine, 1440 Canal St., New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA. cfernan1@tulane.edu.|School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, 1440 Canal St., New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA. cfernan1@tulane.edu.
authors.forename: Camilo
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Fernandez
authors.affiliation: Tulane University School of Medicine, 1430 Tulane Avenue, New Orleans, LA, 70112, USA. gsande3@cox.net.
authors.forename: Gary E
authors.initials: GE
authors.lastname: Sander
authors.affiliation: Tulane University School of Medicine, 109 Holly Drive, Metairie, LA, 70005, USA. tgiles4@cox.net.
authors.forename: Thomas D
authors.initials: TD
authors.lastname: Giles
mesh_terms: D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D018450:Disease Progression; D005838:Genotype; D006331:Heart Diseases / Q000150:complications; D006801:Humans; D010641:Phenotype; D058246:Prehypertension / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*
keywords: Arterial compliance; Clinical definition; Hypertension; Pathophysiology; Prehypertension