An appraisal of the genetic approaches to high blood pressure

Background The genetics of high blood pressure is a growing field. Remarkable discoveries have been made in the rare genetic causes of hypertension. However, if molecular biology is to achieve its full potential it must address more common forms of high blood pressure. The genetics of essential hypertension offers great potential but also presents special challenges. This review examines how genes might influence blood pressure, how we might organize the search for underlying genes, where we should look and the way in which genetic knowledge might be used. Need for broad approach For reasons related to informative research design and the prevention of cardiovascular disease, genetic approaches need to address the variation of blood pressure from low to high levels, not only hypertension. Need for genetic markers If there is to be a time when DNA testing will be routine, then it will depend on discovering genetic markers that are informative, reliable and cost-beneficial.