This issue on endocrine hypertension covers the basic mechanisms, clinical presentations, diagnostic criteria, and therapeutic modalities for a group of hypertensive disorders that, while they represent only a proportion of hypertensive conditions, are very important to consider since many are imminently treatable. In an excellent introductory article Dr Carey provides an overview of hypertension including the general mechanisms involved. As he points out, 90% of hypertension in most communities is essential hypertension. The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) is obviously involved in these cases, together with aldosterone. On the other hand, there is ample evidence that activation of the sympathetic nervous system is also involved. As mentioned in the article, there are other causes of hypertension, most of which are endocrine in origin and are discussed in more detail in subsequent articles.
展开▼
