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Sex-Specific Contributions of Endothelin to Hypertension

  • Preeclampsia (V Garovic, Section Editor)
  • Published:
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Abstract

Purpose of Review

Men and women differ in the prevalence, pathophysiology and control rate of hypertension in an age-dependent manner. The renal endothelin system plays a central role in sex differences in blood pressure regulation by control of sodium excretion and vascular function. Improving our understanding of the sex differences in the endothelin system, especially in regard to blood pressure regulation and sodium homeostasis, will fill a significant gap in our knowledge and may identify sex-specific therapeutic targets for management of hypertension.

Recent Findings

The current review will highlight evidence for the potential role for endothelin system in the pathophysiology of hypertension within three female populations: (i) postmenopausal women, (ii) women suffering from preeclampsia, or (iii) pulmonary arterial hypertension.

Summary

Clinical trials that specifically address cardiovascular and renal diseases in females under different hormonal status are limited. Studies of the modulatory role of gonadal hormones and sex-specific mechanisms on critically important systems involved, such as endothelin, are needed to establish new clinical practice guidelines based on systematic evidence.

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Funding

This work was supported by grants from the National Heart Lung and Blood Institute (P01 HL0699499 and P01 HL136267), an American Heart Association Strategically Focused Research Network Grant on Hypertension, and a UAB School of Medicine AMC21 Multi-Investigator Planning Grant.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Section of Cardio-Renal Physiology & Medicine, Division of Nephrology, Department of Medicine, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Birmingham, AL, 35233, USA

    Eman Y. Gohar & David M. Pollock

  2. Department of Pharmacology and Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt

    Eman Y. Gohar

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  1. Eman Y. Gohar
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  2. David M. Pollock
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Correspondence to David M. Pollock.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Preeclampsia

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Gohar, E.Y., Pollock, D.M. Sex-Specific Contributions of Endothelin to Hypertension. Curr Hypertens Rep 20, 58 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11906-018-0856-0

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