Pathophysiology of Primary Hypertension

The sections in this article are: Introduction Hypertension: the public health problem Epidemiology of HT and cardiovascular risk Benefit of lowering blood pressure Classification of HT Genetic and Environmental Basis for HT Introduction Candidate genes and polymorphisms in HT Renal Na + and HT Introduction Nephron defects in sodium excretion in HT Renal hemodyamics in hypertension Tubuloglomerular feedback and HT Pressure‐natriuresis in HT Salt sensitivity of BP The “non‐modulating” hypertensive phenotype Importance of salt in HT target organ damage Volume Regulation, Cardiac Output and Whole‐Body Autoregulation in HT Microvascular Tone, Peripheral Vascular Resistance and Vascular Remodeling in HT Vascular Rarefaction in HT Endocrine and Paracrine Mechanisms in HT Renin‐angiotensin‐aldosterone system Sympathetic Nervous System in HT NO and HT ROS in HT Endothelin and HT Cyclooxygenase Metabolites and HT Cytochrome P450 Metabolites and HT Insulin, Insulin Resistance and HT The Kinin System and HT Vasopressin and HT Endogenous Ouabain and HT Dopamine and HT Conclusions and Perspectives