The role of creatine kinase in hypertension: Therapeutic perspectives

There is increasing evidence that plasma creatine kinase (CK) levels are associated with hypertension and with resistance to treatment. However, the underlying mechanisms of such associations are unknown, and it remains to be established whether creatine kinase is causally involved in hypertension. It is proposed that enhanced resistance artery contractility due to high vascular smooth muscle creatine kinase-BB activity plays a causal role, by increasing total peripheral resistance. Accordingly, the first part of this thesis addresses CK expression and the effect of inhibition of CK on contractility in human resistance arteries. The second part investigates the possibility of interfering with CK activity to treat hypertension.