ABSTRACT
Numerous factors, both genetic and acquired, are probably involved in the development of hypertension. Figure 2 is an attempt to integrate some of these factors into a single scheme of pathogenesis. As research increases our understanding, it has become obvious in the majority of hypertensive subjects that no single factor is responsible. One factor rather than another may be of relatively greater importance in some patients, e.g. a reduced nephron number in those who suffered from malnutrition during gestation, resulting in intrauterine growth retardation.
