The arterial system in hypertension. A prospective view.

Hypertension has long been considered a hemodynamic disorder, the hallmark of which is an increased total peripheral resistance that is more or less uniformly distributed in the arterioles of the component organ circulations. In recent years, because of the introduction of innovative technologies and methods, it is now possible to obtain a meaningful assessment of the physiological role of the larger arteries, thereby providing an index of arterial distensibility and compliance and a new means to assess the role of pulsatile pressure and arterial stiffening in hypertension and its comorbid diseases (eg, arteriosclerosis, diabetes mellitus). This discussion addresses these newer methodological aspects in assessing arterial stiffening in systemic hypertension and other cardiovascular disorders. In addition, the epidemiological, the molecular biological, and genetic, as well as certain therapeutic, aspects of pulse pressure in these circumstances are discussed.