[Immuno-inflammatory mechanisms of hypertension : contribution to the clinic]

In both industrialized and developing countries, the prevalence of hypertension is increasing. The classical pathophysiology of this major cardiovascular risk factor has recently been enriched by new concepts involving the inflammation and the immune system as potential players. Indeed in certain immune-mediated inflammatory diseases such as psoriatic arthritis, rheumatoid polyarthritis or lupus erythematosus, but also degenerative arthritis, periodontitis, arterial hypertension is found more frequently than in the general population, often underdiagnosed and poorly controlled, and the cardiovascular (CV) risk is more important. The aim of this article is to review the state of knowledge on this subject, and to draw out any implications for clinical practice.