Document Detail


Aldosterone and the vasculature: mechanisms mediating resistant hypertension.
MedLine Citation:
PMID:  17215650     Owner:  NLM     Status:  MEDLINE    
Abstract/OtherAbstract:
The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system appears to be one of the key factors in the development of hypertensive vascular disease. Identification of mineralocorticoid receptors in the heart, vasculature, and brain has raised speculation that aldosterone may directly mediate its detrimental effects in these target organs independent of angiotensin II. Aldosterone increases vascular tone due to endothelial dysfunction and enhances the pressor response to catecholamines and up-regulation of angiotensin II receptors. It induces electrolyte transport over the vascular smooth cell membrane and plays a crucial role in vascular remodeling of small and large arteries. Moreover, aldosterone is involved in vascular injury and promotes collagen synthesis, which leads to increased arterial stiffness and elevation of blood pressure. Aldosterone has also been shown to exert a number of effects in the central nervous system. Several human studies have shown that aldosterone is related to baroreflex resetting. Thus, in cases of severe hypertension, there would be fewer compensatory mechanisms to offset blood pressure elevation and ensuing vascular damage. Endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells have the potential to synthesize aldosterone, and tissue aldosterone could play a more important role in resistant hypertension and target organ damage than circulating aldosterone. Understanding aldosterone synthase polymorphism may provide insight into blood pressure patterns and their consequences. Understanding the vascular mechanisms of aldosterone in resistant hypertension may explain why selective aldosterone receptor blockers might have beneficial effects in resistant hypertension.
Authors:
Daniel A Duprez
Publication Detail:
Type:  Journal Article; Review    
Journal Detail:
Title:  Journal of clinical hypertension (Greenwich, Conn.)     Volume:  9     ISSN:  1524-6175     ISO Abbreviation:  J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich)     Publication Date:  2007 Jan 
Date Detail:
Created Date:  2007-01-11     Completed Date:  2007-04-09     Revised Date:  -    
Medline Journal Info:
Nlm Unique ID:  100888554     Medline TA:  J Clin Hypertens (Greenwich)     Country:  United States    
Other Details:
Languages:  eng     Pagination:  13-8     Citation Subset:  IM    
Affiliation:
Cardiovascular Division, University of Minnesota, Minneapolis, MN 55455, USA. dupre007@umn.edu
Export Citation:
APA/MLA Format     Download EndNote     Download BibTex
MeSH Terms
Descriptor/Qualifier:
Aldosterone / metabolism*
Angiotensin II
Autonomic Nervous System / physiopathology
Endothelium / physiology*
Humans
Hypertension / pathology,  physiopathology*
Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / physiology*
Recurrence*
Renin-Angiotensin System / physiology*
Treatment Failure*
Chemical
Reg. No./Substance:
11128-99-7/Angiotensin II; 52-39-1/Aldosterone

From MEDLINE®/PubMed®, a database of the U.S. National Library of Medicine


Previous Document:  Clinical characteristics of resistant hypertension: the importance of compliance and the role of dia...
Next Document:  Low-dose aldosterone blockade as a new treatment paradigm for controlling resistant hypertension.