Hypertension, genotype and oral contraceptives

Oral contraceptive-induced hypertension (OCIH) is a well-recognized phenomenon characterized by an increase in blood pressure levels after beginning estroprogestin therapy and a reduction to normal levels within 1 year after suspension of the therapy. The pathophysiology of this condition is still not understood: several lines of evidence indicate a role for a genetic susceptibility to the development of this disease. In this article, the epidemiology and the pathogenesis of OCIH are reviewed with particular emphasis on the genetic influence in light of the most recent studies in this field.