[Melatonin and arterial hypertension: from understanding pathogenesis to therapeutic modalities]

Biological rhythms are driven by the hypothalamic circadian pacemaker. Its action is mediated through epiphyseal melatonin that transmits regulatory signals directly to target organs. Circadian fluctuations of arterial pressure suggest participation of melatonin in regulation of this important indicator of cardiovascular activity. Melatonin is a key endogenous hypotensive factor. Some studies demonstrated that additional prescription ofmelatonin to patients with nocturnal hypertension refractory to traditional hypotensive agents significantly lowered arterial pressure during sleep. Moreover, melatonin was shown to exert meteo- and magnetoprotective action and thereby reduce the dependence ofpatients with arterial hypertension on the adverse environmental factors.