Oxidative Stress in Hypertension

Oxidative stress refers to increases in reactive metabolites of molecular oxygen that occur as a result of increases in formation and/or reductions in scavenging or degradation. Oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of hypertension. In this chapter, we examine the relationship between oxidative stress in the development and maintenance of hypertension and changes in vascular structure and function. We focus primarily on enzymatic systems that contribute to oxidative stress, such as NAD(P)H oxidase, and those that limit oxidative stress, including superoxide dismutase, glutathione peroxidase, and catalase.