Abnormal immune system and hypertension: where are we?

In reviewing the available evidence, the involvement of an immunological mechanism behind hypertension has been proposed. However, whether altered immunological function is a primary factor in the pathogenesis of hypertension or secondary to tissue damage of vascular beds induced by hypertension is still poorly defined. A major difficulty has been the relative paucity of information about the nature of specific immune targets which initiate and perpetuate abnormal immune responses in hypertension. This article will discuss the status of understanding of the involvement of immunological factors in both clinical and experimental hypertension.