| Autor: |
Bestavashvili AA; Department of Cardiology, Functional and Ultrasound Diagnosis, Institute of Clinical Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia., Bestavashvili AA; Moscow State University of Medicine and Dentistry named after A.I. Evdokimov, Moscow, Russia., Saidova AI; Department of Cardiology, Functional and Ultrasound Diagnosis, Institute of Clinical Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia., Shchekochikhin DI; Department of Cardiology, Functional and Ultrasound Diagnosis, Institute of Clinical Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia., Kopylov FI; Department of Cardiology, Functional and Ultrasound Diagnosis, Institute of Clinical Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia., Syrkin AL; Department of Cardiology, Functional and Ultrasound Diagnosis, Institute of Clinical Medicine, I.M. Sechenov First Moscow State Medical University, Moscow, Russia. |
| Abstrakt: |
Ageing is considered to be the major and non-modifiable risk factor for the development of hypertension and cardiovascular diseases. During ageing, the vascular system undergoes structural and functional alterations, including endothelial dysfunction, thickening of the vascular wall, reduced distensibility and increased arterial stiffness. Vascular rigidity results from fibrosis and remodelling of the extracellular matrix, processes that are associated with ageing and are amplified in hypertension. These events may be induced by vasoactive agents, such as angiotensin II, endothelin-1, and aldosterone, which are increased in the vasculature during aging and hypertension. Complex interaction between the process of ageing and prohypertensive factors results in accelerated vascular remodelling and fibrosis, as well as increased arterial stiffness. Hypertension accelerates and augments age-related vascular remodelling and dysfunction, and ageing may impact on the severity of vascular damage in hypertension, thus strongly suggesting close interactions between biological ageing and blood pressure elevation. Molecular and cellular mechanisms underlying vascular alterations in ageing and hypertension are common and include aberrant signal transduction, oxidative stress and activation of pro-inflammatory and pro-fibrotic transcription factors. Strategies to suppress age-associated vascular changes can ameliorate vascular damage associated with hypertension. This article looks into vascular alterations occurring during ageing and hypertension, focussing particularly on arterial stiffness and vascular remodelling, also emphasizing the importance of diagnostic methods. |
