Cardiac Fibrosis in Hypertension

Myocardial fibrosis is the hallmark of myocardial remodelling found in hypertensive individuals. This process adversely affects the outcomes of such patients and results in diastolic and systolic cardiac dysfunction, electrical dysrhythmia and potentially sudden death. Collagen metabolism has been highlighted as the primary mechanism by which fibrosis is regulated. However, there are many other facets to the pathophysiology of myocardial fibrosis including mechanical, cellular and hormonal influences, which may guide therapy and thereby determine prognosis.