Coronary disease in hypertension: a new mosaic.

HYPERTENSION-ASSOCIATED ABNORMALITIES THAT PROMOTE CORONARY DISEASE: Although antihypertensive treatment has been effective in reducing premature cardiovascular mortality, the effect on various organ-specific morbid events has been unequal; the effect is much more impressive on stroke reduction than on reduction of coronary events. A student of pathophysiology would have anticipated such an outcome since blood pressure elevation is only one of multiple abnormalities in hypertension. Even in its mildest form hypertension is associated with the metabolic syndrome of dyslipidemia/insulin resistance which is conducive to early atherosclerosis. A large proportion of patients also have increased sympathetic and decreased parasympathetic tone, a constellation conducive to arrhythmias and, ultimately, to sudden death. An elevated hematocrit is also found in a substantial proportion of male patients and excessive platelet aggregability has also been described in hypertension. These hematologic abnormalities are conducive to coronary thrombosis. Angiotensin II and norepinephrine, two of the most potent trophic hormones, are frequently elevated in hypertension. The effect of these hormones on the cardiac and vascular structure further increases the predilection for negative outcomes. Left ventricular hypertrophy is a potent risk factor of coronary mortality, congestive heart failure and sudden death. Vascular hypertrophy reduces the coronary reserve and at the level of skeletal muscles contributes to the evolution of the metabolic syndrome. ORGAN-SPECIFIC HYPERTENSION TREATMENT: Because of these abnormalities we are entering a new era of treatment in hypertension. Whereas an effective fall in blood pressure remains the main goal of treatment, differential effects of various antihypertensive agents on organ-specific morbidity are being actively explored. If this research proves that certain drugs have a specific advantage in defined subgroups of patients, clinical practice will change. It is reasonable to expect that in the next century we will witness a further improvement in the impact of antihypertensive treatment on public health.