Treating therapy resistant hypertension: A role for atypical gated calcium channels

One billion people suffer from high blood pressure world wide, the major risk factor for cardiovascular disease. However some 30% of patients suffer from a therapy resistant form characterized by uncontrolled high blood pressure despite treatment. We propose that the increased oxidative stress that occurs under these disease conditions alters the mechanism by which blood vessels constrict. Targeting this novel mechanism may provide a way to treat this potentially life threatening condition.