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Heart, aging, and hypertension

J Varagic1, D Susic, E Frohlich

  • 1Hypertension Research Laboratory, Alton Ochsner Medical Foundation, New Orleans, Louisiana 70121, USA.

Current Opinion in Cardiology
|November 13, 2001
PubMed

Insights

Hypertension and aging cause similar heart problems like hypertrophy and fibrosis. However, distinct mechanisms, particularly collagen deposition in the heart, drive these conditions, suggesting new therapeutic targets.

Area of Science:

  • Cardiology
  • Pathophysiology
  • Gerontology

Background:

  • Hypertension and aging negatively impact the cardiovascular system, notably the heart.
  • Both conditions manifest similarly, including ventricular hypertrophy, fibrosis, and impaired function.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To explore recent clinical and experimental findings on hypertensive and aging heart disease.
  • To focus on alterations in nonmyocytic elements and collagen deposition in the heart.
  • To discuss novel therapeutic strategies.

Main Methods:

  • Review of recent clinical and experimental findings.
  • Focus on nonmyocytic cellular changes and myocardial collagen deposition.
  • Analysis of pathophysiological mechanisms underlying heart dysfunction.

Main Results:

  • Hypertensive and aging hearts show similar structural and functional changes.
  • Different underlying pathophysiological mechanisms are suggested.
  • Exaggerated myocardial collagen deposition is a key factor in ventricular dysfunction.

Conclusions:

  • While outwardly similar, hypertensive and aging hearts have distinct underlying causes.
  • Alterations in nonmyocytic elements, especially collagen, are crucial.
  • New therapeutic approaches targeting these mechanisms are emerging.

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