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Hypertension and peripheral arterial disease

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 23, pages 213–215 (2009)Cite this article

Atherosclerotic vascular diseases (peripheral arterial disease (PAD), coronary artery disease (CAD) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD)) are leading causes of global morbidity and mortality.1 While manifesting in different vascular territories, these diseases all share the common pathophysiological process of atherothrombosis. Given the overlap that exists between these different territories,2 once atherosclerosis is established in one territory, risk factor modification is vital for the secondary prevention of cardiovascular events.

Hypertension is the most common cardiovascular risk factor,3 as well as a risk factor for atherosclerosis. The mechanisms by which it contributes to this have not been fully elucidated4 but include abnormalities in platelet activation and fibrinolysis, endothelial cell dysfunction and abnormal levels of haemostatic factors.5 Hypertension perhaps exerts similar effects on the arterial wall to hyperlipidaemia. For example, the increase in oxidative stress, common in both conditions, may activate genes involved in generating an inflammatory response that in the presence of hyperlipidaemia leads to the formation of atherosclerotic plaques.4

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. University Department of Medicine, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK

    P C Bennett

  2. Department of Vascular Surgery, City Hospital, Birmingham, UK

    P C Bennett & S Silverman

  3. Department of Primary Care Clinical Sciences, University of Birmingham, Edgbaston, Birmingham, UK

    P Gill

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  1. P C Bennett
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  2. S Silverman
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  3. P Gill
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Correspondence to P C Bennett.

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Bennett, P., Silverman, S. & Gill, P. Hypertension and peripheral arterial disease. J Hum Hypertens 23, 213–215 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1038/jhh.2008.126

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