IMPAIRED SYNTHESIS OF ELASTIN IN WALLS OF AORTA AND LARGE CONDUIT ARTERIES DURING EARLY DEVELOPMENT AS AN INITIATING EVENT IN PATHOGENESIS OF SYSTEMIC HYPERTENSION

There is much evidence that people who had low birthweight tend to hav e higher blood pressure in later life. However, the mechanisms that me diate this relation are unknown. We argue that, in fetuses whose growt h is impaired, synthesis of elastin in the walls of the aorta and larg e arteries may be deficient, and that this deficiency would lead to pe rmanent changes in the mechanical properties of these vessels. Over a lifetime, such changes could predispose an individual to higher blood pressure, increased left-ventricular mass, and cardiovascular disease.