Pathophysiology of Resistant Hypertension: The Role of Sympathetic Nervous System

Figure 1

A proposed pathophysiologic pathway for the activation of SNS and the development of RH. Obesity, OSA and aldosterone excess are covering a great area of the mosaic of the phenotype of RH and are correlated with increased SNS activity, via multiple mechanisms. ^↑ALDO: Aldosterone excess, OSA: Obstructive sleep apnea, ^↑RAAS: Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System activation, RH: Resistant hypertension, ^↑SNS: Sympathetic nervous system hyperactivity.