[The relevance of the receptor system in the determination of hypertension]

A pathogenetic role of the receptor mechanisms has been proved or suspected in various diseases. According to a widely accepted hypothesis also essential hypertension may be due to an unbalance between vasoconstricting and vasodilating receptor systems. Although several studies have demonstrated alterations in the number or in the response of specific receptors, it is often difficult to distinguish the primary, causal changes from the secondary, adaptive ones.