Abstract

Introduction

Materials & Methods

Results

Discussion & Conclusion

References

Discussion
Board

The media to lumen ratio, media cross-sectional area and smooth muscle cell volume were significantly greater in the resistance arteries of RVH compared with EH and NT. EH and PA showed an increased media to lumen ratio compared with NT, but no difference in media cross-sectional area and smooth muscle cell volume was observed among these three groups.

No difference in the number of cells per segment length, cell length and cell layers was observed among all groups of normotensive subjects and hypetensive patients.

In conclusion, an inward hypertrophic remodelling, as evaluated by a direct, unbiased method, was observed in small resistance arteries of RVH but not in those of patients with PA or EH. Therefore, for the first time our data demonstrate that a pronounced activation of the renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system is associated with vascular smooth muscle cell hypertrophy not only in experimental hypertension, but also in humans. This contrast with the eutrophic remodelling seen in resistance vessels in human essential hypertension raises the possibility that different treatment regimens may be needed to obtain full regression of vascular structure in the two cases.

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