ABNORMAL IMMUNE-SYSTEM AND HYPERTENSION - WHERE ARE WE

In reviewing the available evidence, the involvement of an immunologic al mechanism behind hypertension has been proposed. However, whether a ltered 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 immun e targets which initiate and perpetuate abnormal immune responses in h ypertension. This article will discuss the status of understanding of the involvement of immunological factors in both clinical and experime ntal hypertension.