Purpose of review: To highlight important new findings on the topic of autoimmune disease-associated hypertension.
Recent findings: Autoimmune diseases including systemic lupus erythematosus and rheumatoid arthritis are associated with an increased risk for hypertension and cardiovascular disease. A complex interaction among genetic, environmental, hormonal, and metabolic factors contribute to autoimmune disease susceptibility while promoting chronic inflammation that can lead to alterations in blood pressure. Recent studies emphasize an important mechanistic role for autoantibodies in autoimmune disease-associated hypertension. Moving forward, understanding how sex hormones, neutrophils, and mitochondrial dysfunction contribute to hypertension in autoimmune disease will be important. This review examines the prevalent hypertension in autoimmune disease with a focus on the impact of immune system dysfunction on vascular dysfunction and renal hemodynamics as primary mediators with oxidative stress as a main contributor.
Keywords: Autoimmunity; Hypertension; Inflammation; Lupus; Renal hemodynamics; Vascular function.