Blood pressure, large arteries and atherosclerosis.

It is generally accepted that the increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in hypertension are related to target organ damage. Classically, the target organs are heart, brain, and kidneys. This brief report examines whether high arterial pressure may also affect other organs, such as aorta and large arteries. An attempt was also made to elucidate the relationship between disorders of the aorta and large arteries and other cardiovascular risk factors to the pathophysiology and treatment of patients with hypertension and its severe comorbid disease, atherosclerosis.