Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
4 Pt 1
pubmed:dateCreated
1999-12-1
pubmed:abstractText
We recently showed that rarefaction of skin capillaries in the dorsum of the fingers of patients with essential hypertension is due to the structural (anatomic) absence of capillaries rather than functional nonperfusion. It is not known whether this rarefaction is primary (ie, antedates the onset of hypertension) or secondary (ie, as a consequence of sustained and prolonged elevation of blood pressure [BP]). The aim of the present investigation was to study skin capillary density in a group of patients with mild borderline hypertension to assess whether rarefaction antedates the onset of sustained elevation of BP. The study group included 18 patients with mild borderline hypertension (mean supine BP, 136/83 mm Hg), 32 normotensive controls (mean BP, 126/77 mm Hg), and 45 patients with established essential hypertension (mean BP, 156/98 mm Hg). The skin of the dorsum of the fingers was examined by intravital capillary videomicroscopy before and after venous congestion at 60 mm Hg for 2 minutes. Patients with borderline essential hypertension had the lowest resting capillary density when compared with normotensive controls and patients with established hypertension. Maximal capillary density with venous congestion in the borderline group remained the lowest. The study confirmed that patients with borderline essential hypertension have skin capillary densities that are equally low as or even lower than patients with established hypertension. Both groups had significantly lower capillary densities than normal controls. One explanation for the results is that capillary rarefaction may be due to an early structural abnormality in essential hypertension.
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Oct
pubmed:issn
0194-911X
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
34
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
655-8
pubmed:dateRevised
2004-11-17
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1999
pubmed:articleTitle
Rarefaction of skin capillaries in borderline essential hypertension suggests an early structural abnormality.
pubmed:affiliation
Blood Pressure Unit, Department of Medicine, St. George's Hospital Medical School, London, UK. tantonios@sghms.ac.uk
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article