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Hypertension and Intracranial Hypertension Association: A Narrative Review
Mikaelle Costa Correia1, Sayuri Inuzuka1, Matheus Martins da Costa1
1Hypertension Unit, Cardiovascular Section and Health Sciences Post Graduation Program. Federal University of Goias, Goiania, GO, Brazil.
Current Hypertension Reviews
|October 17, 2025
Summary
Hypertension can alter brain blood vessels, potentially increasing intracranial pressure. Further research is needed to understand this link and improve cerebrovascular risk assessment.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Cardiovascular Science
- Cerebrovascular Research
Background:
- Hypertension causes structural and functional changes in cerebral arteries.
- These changes can lead to elevated intracranial pressure and disrupt cerebral autoregulation.
- Chronic hypertension may mask intracranial hypertension due to reduced intracranial compliance.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the potential association between hypertension and intracranial hypertension.
- To emphasize their pathophysiological connections, risk factors, and consequences.
- To highlight the need for further research and potential clinical applications.
Main Methods:
- Narrative review of existing literature.
- Discussion of pathophysiological mechanisms.
- Exploration of overlapping factors and clinical relevance.
Main Results:
- Hypertension-induced vascular changes may impair blood-brain barrier integrity and cerebral blood flow regulation.
- Intracranial hypertension can be subclinical in hypertensive patients.
- Overlapping mechanisms suggest a clinically relevant association.
Conclusions:
- The association between hypertension and intracranial hypertension requires further elucidation.
- Combined assessment of blood pressure and intracranial parameters may improve cerebrovascular risk evaluation.
- Advances in noninvasive intracranial pressure assessment show promise for early detection.
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