Sympathetic overactivity in hypertension and cardiovascular disease.

Sympathetic overactivity in hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
Curr Vasc Pharmacol. 2013 Jul 31;
Authors: Manolis AJ, Poulimenos LE, Kallistratos MS, Gavras I, Gavras H
Abstract
From the first description of its anatomy by T. Willis to the novel therapeutic manipulations, it is unanimously recognized that the sympathetic nervous system (SNS) holds a crucial role in cardiovascular homeostasis. The introduction of sophisticated techniques, as microneurography and regional norepinephrine spillover provided the evidence for the role of sympathetic overactivity in various cardiovascular disease entities. Sympathetic activation is common in patients with essential hypertension and contributes to initiation, maintenance and progression of the disease and it contributes to the manifestation of its major complications. A considerable body of evidence relates SNS overactivity with high sodium intake in experimental animals and humans and the underlying mechanisms have nowadays been elucidated. SNS activity is more pronounced in patients with resistant hypertension and there are several conditions that lead to this phenomenon, as older age, kidney disease, obesity and metabolic syndrome, mental stress and sleep apnea. SNS overactivity holds also a key physiopathological role in heart failure, acute coronary syndromes and arrhythmias. Moreover, inhibition of sympathetic overactivity by various means, including central SNS suppressing drugs, peripher...

Source: Current Vascular Pharmacology - July 31, 2013 Category: Drugs & Pharmacology Authors: Manolis AJ, Poulimenos LE, Kallistratos MS, Gavras I, Gavras H Tags: Curr Vasc Pharmacol Source Type: research