Genetic factors in human hypertension.

The advancement of molecular biomedical techniques has allowed solutions to the problem of finding a genetic linkage to hypertension. This is now being approached by limiting study to a select number of genetic factors possibly influencing a particular physiologic dysfunction or structural defect. Analysis of chromosomal abnormalities or regions bearing a particular mutation have been greatly influenced by the ability to produce artificial chromosomes or to identify closely linked markers. Rapid accumulation of knowledge of the genetic map has led to a number of these gene/disease linkages. Perhaps the unraveling of some of the polygenic influences in hypertension may lead to even better treatment protocols to minimize the disease complications of elevated blood pressure.