Microcirculation in Hypertension: A Therapeutic Target to Prevent Cardiovascular Disease?

Arterial hypertension is a common condition worldwide and an important risk factor for cardio- cerebrovascular events, renal diseases, as well microvascular eye diseases. Established leads to the chronic vasoconstriction of small arteries decreased lumen diameter thickening arterial media or wall with consequent increased media-to-lumen ratio (MLR) wall-to-lumen (WLR). This process, defined vascular remodeling, was firstly demonstrated in resistance isolated from subcutaneous biopsies measured by micromyography, this still considered gold-standard method assessment structural alterations arteries; however, remodeling seems represent generalized phenomenon. An MLR may impair organ flow reserve, playing crucial role maintenance and, probably, also progressive worsening hypertensive disease, development hypertension-mediated damage related cardiovascular thus possessing relevant prognostic relevance. New non-invasive techniques, such scanning laser Doppler flowmetry adaptive optics, are presently under development, focusing mainly on evaluation WLR retinal arterioles; recently, have impact terms events. A rarefaction capillary network has been reported hypertension, which contribute reduction impairment oxygen delivery different tissues. These seem early step since they might angina, stroke, dysfunction. In addition, can be markers useful monitoring beneficial effects antihypertensive treatment. Additionally, conductance affected process interrelationship present changes large arteries. The review addresses possible relations between damage, their potential improvement