Essential hypertension is a form of hypertension without an identifiable physiologic cause. It is the most common type affecting 85% of those with high blood pressure. The remaining 15% is accounted for by various causes of secondary hypertension. Essential hypertension tends to be familial and is likely to be the consequence of an interaction between environmental and genetic factors. Hypertension can increase the risk of cerebral, cardiac, and renal events.
Arterial stiffness occurs as a consequence of biological aging and arteriosclerosis. Inflammation plays a major role in arteriosclerosis development, and consequently it is a major contributor in large arteries stiffening. Increased arterial stiffness is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular events such as myocardial infarction, hypertension, heart failure and stroke, the two leading causes of death in the developed world. The World Health Organization predicts that in 2010, cardiovascular disease will also be the leading killer in the developing world and represents a major global health problem.
Thromboxane A2 (TXA2) is a type of thromboxane that is produced by activated platelets during hemostasis and has prothrombotic properties: it stimulates activation of new platelets as well as increases platelet aggregation. This is achieved by activating the thromboxane receptor, which results in platelet-shape change, inside-out activation of integrins, and degranulation. Circulating fibrinogen binds these receptors on adjacent platelets, further strengthening the clot. Thromboxane A2 is also a known vasoconstrictor and is especially important during tissue injury and inflammation. It is also regarded as responsible for Prinzmetal's angina.
Central aortic blood pressure is the blood pressure at the root of aorta. Studies have shown the importance of central aortic pressure, especially as compared to peripheral blood pressure, and its implications in assessing the efficacy of antihypertensive treatment with respect to cardiovascular risk factors, kidney disease, and mortality. There is an emerging movement for clinicians to begin using central aortic blood pressure, instead of peripheral blood pressure, as a guide for clinical decisions.
Dame Anna Felicja Dominiczak DBE FRCP FRSE FAHA FMedSci is a Polish-born British medical researcher, Regius Professor of Medicine - the first woman to hold this position, and the Chief Scientist (Health) for the Scottish Government. From 2010 to 2020, Dominiczak was the Vice-Principal and Head of the College of Medical, Veterinary and Life Sciences at the University of Glasgow, Scotland. She is an Honorary Consultant Physician and Endocrinologist for the NHS Greater Glasgow and Clyde Health Board, and Health Innovation Champion for the Medical Research Council. From 2013 to 2015, Dominiczak was president of the European Society of Hypertension. She is the current Editor-in-Chief of Precision Medicine, a new journal launched in July 2023.
Donald Robert James Singer was a British clinical pharmacologist who was the president of the Fellowship of Postgraduate Medicine.
Orthostatic hypertension is a medical condition consisting of a sudden and abrupt increase in blood pressure (BP) when a person stands up. Orthostatic hypertension is diagnosed by a rise in systolic BP of 20 mmHg or more when standing. Orthostatic diastolic hypertension is a condition in which the diastolic BP raises to 98 mmHg or over in response to standing, but this definition currently lacks clear medical consensus, so is subject to change. Orthostatic hypertension involving the systolic BP is known as systolic orthostatic hypertension.
Roderick John Flower, also known as Rod, is a British pharmacologist, and professor at Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. Dr. Flower is a member of the board of directors of Antibe Therapeutics and on the scientific advisory board of Morria.
Elizabeth Matilda Tansey is an Emerita Professor of the history of medicine and former neurochemist, best known for her role in the Wellcome Trust's witness seminars. She previously worked at Queen Mary University of London (QMUL).
Guidelines on the choice of agents and how best to step up treatment for various subgroups have changed over time and differ between countries.
Rohini Kuner is an Indian-born German pharmacologist and director of the Institute of Pharmacology at Heidelberg University.
Rhian M. Touyz Koppel MBBCh, MSc (Med), PhD, FRCP, FRSE, FMedSci, FCAHS is a Canadian medical researcher. She is currently serving as the Executive Director and Chief Scientific Officer of the Research Institute of the McGill University Health Centre in Montreal, Canada, since 2021. A clinician scientist, her research primarily focuses on hypertension and cardiovascular disease.
David John Webb, is a British physician, scientist and clinical pharmacologist, who currently holds the Christison Chair of Therapeutics and Clinical Pharmacology at the University of Edinburgh.
Harriet Pearson Dustan (1920–1999) was an American physician who is known for her pioneering contributions to effective detection and treatment of hypertension. She was the first woman to serve on the Board of Governors of the American Board of Internal Medicine.
Sir Mark Jonathan Caulfield MD, FRCP, FESC, FPharm, FBHS, FMedSci (born 19 July 1960) is a British genomic medicine researcher and Warden of Barts and The London School of Medicine and Dentistry. He is the Professor of Clinical Pharmacology at the William Harvey Research Institute in Queen Mary University of London. He was awarded a knighthood in the 2019 Birthday Honours.
Sussan Nourshargh is a British immunologist, pharmacologist, and professor of microvascular pharmacology and immunopharmacology. She founded the Centre for Microvascular research at Queen Mary University.
Sir Colin Terence Dollery was a clinical pharmacologist who spent much of his life working for SmithKline Beecham and its successor, Glaxo Smith Kline. He was knighted in the Queen's 1987 birthday honours. He was an honorary fellow of the British Pharmacological Society and a fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences.
Fiona Hamilton Marshall is a British pharmacologist, founder and Senior Vice President of Discovery, Preclinical & Translational Medicine at Merck & Co. She will become the next president of the Novartis Institutes for BioMedical Research. She previously served as Chief Scientific Officer at Heptares Therapeutic, where she was Vice President of the Japanese biopharmaceutical company Sosei. She was elected Fellow of the Academy of Medical Sciences in 2016 and the Royal Society in 2021.
Louise Clare Kenny is a British physician who is Professor and Executive Pro-Vice-Chancellor at the University of Liverpool. She was elected an Commander of the Order of the British Empire in the 2022 New Year Honours.
Murielle Bochud is a Swiss physician. She is co-chief of the Department of Epidemiology and Health Systems at the University Centre for Primary Care and Public Health (Unisanté) in Lausanne. Her research considers the epidemiology of cardio-metabolic diseases and genetic epidemiology.
