Hypertension and Cardiovascular Prevention: The Role of Acute and Chronic Inflammation

Dear colleagues,

Hypertension is a highly prevalent condition worldwide and a leading risk factor for cardiovascular diseases (CVD) and related complications. It occurs as a common comorbidity to several diseases associated with increased CVD risk, including, but not limited to, metabolic disorders, obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome, immune-mediated diseases, like rheumatoid arthritis and periodontal disorders, and cancer. In recent years, evidence has accumulated in support of the role of the immune system in the pathogenesis of hypertension and atherogenesis, providing new insights into the understanding of accelerated cardiovascular pathology in the presence of inflammation. Acute and chronic inflammation are both responsible for an increased risk of CVD. In an acute setting, including acute infections, increased sympathetic activity, tachycardia, hypoxia, thrombophilia, and the release of inflammatory cytokines contribute to increased vascular tone and destabilization of atheromatous plaques. On the other hand, the inappropriate persistence of immune system activation that occurs during chronic inflammation, typically associated with redox unbalance and impaired metabolic pathways, appears to contribute to the establishment and/or progression of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension. The role of the human virome and microbiome in this scenario is intriguing, and the therapeutic implications of correcting dysbiosis in different settings are under investigation. This Special Issue is dedicated to the impact of acute and chronic inflammation—and related hormonal, metabolic, and neurological events—on traditional and novel cardiovascular risk factors, welcoming studies that help clarify the molecular bases of increased CVD risk in the presence of immune system activation, and the potential therapeutic approaches to the problem.

Prof. Dr. Claudio Ferri
Dr. Rita Del Pinto
Guest Editors

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• Acute inflammation 
• Chronic inflammation 
• Immune system 
• Hypertension 
• Atherosclerosis 
• Cardiovascular risk 
• Cardiovascular diseases