There is considerable evidence that abnormalities of glucose, insulin, and lipoprotein metabolism occur more frequently in untreated hypertensive patients than in normotensive control subjects. More recently, it has also become apparent that similar metabolic abnormalities occur in rodent models of hypertension. One purpose of this article is to review the experimental data that have led to the above generalizations. The second goal is to address the significance of these findings, which is certainly not clear. For example, it could be argued that the relationship between high blood pressure and the associated metabolic defects is incidental. On the other hand, there is evidence that the changes in glucose, insulin, and lipoprotein metabolism may play a role in the etiology and/or clinical course of patients with high blood pressure. Although it is impossible at this point to definitively choose between these possibilities, an effort is made to marshal the evidence in support of the latter alternative.
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Original Articles|
March 01 1991
Insulin Resistance, Hyperinsulinemia, Hypertriglyceridemia, and Hypertension: Parallels Between Human Disease and Rodent Models
Gerald M Reaven, MD
Gerald M Reaven, MD
Department of Medicine, Stanford University School of Medicine, and Geriatric Research, Education and Clinical Center, Veterans Administration Medical Center
Palo Alto, California
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Address correspondence and reprint requests to Gerald M. Reaven, MD, GRECC (182-B), VA Medical Center, 3801 Miranda Avenue, Palo Alto, CA 94304.
Citation
Gerald M Reaven; Insulin Resistance, Hyperinsulinemia, Hypertriglyceridemia, and Hypertension: Parallels Between Human Disease and Rodent Models. Diabetes Care 1 March 1991; 14 (3): 195–202. https://doi.org/10.2337/diacare.14.3.195
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