[Hypertension and the arterial wall]

The hypertensive arteriopathy is the complication of any blood pressure augmentation, whatever its cause. It results from the association of: 1. Enlargement of arterial and arteriolar media, due to a double process of smooth muscle cells hypertrophy and hyperplasia, usually considered as secondary to arterial smooth muscle overworking. 2. Degenerative changes and fibrosis of the media likely due to exudative phenomena and transfer of blood throughout the arterial wall. 3. Initimal proliferation is constituted by cells which resemble to smooth muscle cells and are usually considered as cells coming from the media and invading the intima. 4. Exudation of several elements coming from the blood (fibrinogen, plasma globulins, red corpuscles) are the common denominator of accelerated hypertension.