Blood pressure 'is in the brain'
The cause of high blood pressure may lie within the brain, rather than
with problems relating to the heart, kidneys or blood vessels,
research suggests.
Scientists at Bristol University say the findings could lead to new
ways of treating the condition, which affects about one in five
Britons.
They isolated a protein, JAM-1, in the brain which appeared to trap
white blood cells, obstructing blood flow.
This can cause inflammation and result in poor oxygen supply to the
brain.
Brain blood pressure
Professor Julian Paton and colleagues believe these, in turn, trigger
events that raise blood pressure, the journal Hypertension re****ts.
The future challenge will be to understand the type of inflammation
within the vessels in the brain
Lead researcher Professor Julian Paton
Their studies in rats show JAM-1 is linked to raised blood pressure,
but the exact mechanisms behind this are still unclear. They are now
looking at the human brain to understand more.
Professor Paton explained: "The future challenge will be to understand
the type of inflammation within the vessels in the brain, so that we
know what drug to use, and how to target them.
"JAM-1 could provide us with new clues as to how to deal with this
disease.
"We are looking at the possibility of treating those patients that
fail to respond to conventional therapy for hypertension with drugs
that reduce blood vessel inflammation and increase blood flow within
the brain."
Drug target
Professor Jeremy Pearson of the British Heart Foundation, which funded
the latest work, said: "This exciting study is im****tant because it
suggests there are unexpected causes of high blood pressure related to
blood supply to the brain.
"It therefore opens up the possibility of new ways to treat this
common, but often poorly managed, condition."
It has been known for some time that the brain can affect blood
pressure.
A team of researchers, led by Neurosurgery expert Mr Alex Green of
Oxford's John Radcliffe Hospital, found they could make patients'
blood pressure increase or decrease by stimulating very specific
regions of the brain with electrodes.
Mr Green said the latest work was "very exciting" and that it
suggested JAM-1 could be a good target for new blood pressure
therapies.
Professor Graham MacGregor, chairman of the Blood Pressure
Association, cautioned that the work was at a very early stage and
much more extensive research was needed.
He said blood pressure medicines currently prescribed by doctors could
be very effective, provided they were taken correctly and in
combination with leading a healthy lifestyle.
Although high blood pressure, also known as hypertension, can cause
headaches, dizziness and problems with vision, the majority of people
with the condition do not display any noticeable symptoms.
It can lead to heart attack, stroke and kidney damage, but medication
can be used to control its effects if changes to lifestyle fail to
lower blood pressure.
Story from BBC NEWS:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/2/hi/health/6551553.stm
Published: 2007/04/15 02:28:40 GMT
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