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Small artery remodeling in hypertension and diabetes

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Abstract

The development of structural changes in the systemic vasculature is the end result of established hypertension. In essential hypertension, small artery smooth muscle cells are restructured around a smaller lumen, and there is no net growth of the vascular wall, whereas in some secondary forms of hypertension and in non-insulindependent diabetes mellitus, a hypertrophic remodeling may be detected. Indices of small resistance artery structure, such as the tunica media to internal lumen ratio, may have a strong prognostic significance in hypertensive patients. Various antihypertensive drugs seem to have different effects on vascular structure. A complete normalization of small resistance artery structure was demonstrated in hypertensive patients, after prolonged and effective therapy with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, angiotensin II-receptor blockers, and calcium antagonists. Few data are available in diabetic hypertensive patients; however, blockade of the renin-angiotensin system seems to be effective in this regard.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical and Surgical Sciences, University of Brescia, c/o 2a Medicina Spedali Civili di Brescia, Piazza Spedali Civili 1, 25100, Brescia, Italy

    Damiano Rizzoni MD

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  1. Damiano Rizzoni MD
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  2. Enrico Agabiti Rosei MD
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Correspondence to Damiano Rizzoni MD.

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Rizzoni, D., Rosei, E.A. Small artery remodeling in hypertension and diabetes. Current Science Inc 8, 90–95 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-006-0046-3

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