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Preexisting hypertension and cancer therapy: evidence, pathophysiology, and management recommendation

Journal of Human Hypertension volume 37, pages 331–337 (2023)Cite this article

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Abstract

Cancer is considered one of the leading causes of mortality worldwide. At the same time, hypertension is recognized as one of the most common comorbidities in cancer patients. Antineoplastic therapies, mainly tyrosine kinase and vascular endothelial growth factor inhibitors, have been associated with new-onset hypertension by activation of different pathophysiological pathways. However, the role of preexisting hypertension in cancer patients under treatment has not been thoroughly studied. According to this review, preexisting hypertension is an independent risk factor for increased blood pressure during anticancer therapy. Therefore, physicians should recognize hypertension and its phenotypes (i.e., masked hypertension) as an important modifiable risk factor that should be properly managed prior to the initiation of cancer therapy to avoid premature chemotherapy cessation. The development of onco-hypertension will help establish specific guidelines for managing hypertension in cancer patients.

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Fig. 1: BP management algorithm before and during antineoplastic therapy.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. St. George’s University of London, University of Nicosia Medical School, Engomi, Cyprus

    Lida Koskina

  2. First Department of Cardiology, Medical School, National and Kapodistrian University of Athens, Hippokration Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Ioannis Andrikou & Konstantinos Tsioufis

  3. Department of Cardiology, Helena Venizelou Hospital, Athens, Greece

    Costas Thomopoulos

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  1. Lida Koskina
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  2. Ioannis Andrikou
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  3. Costas Thomopoulos
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  4. Konstantinos Tsioufis
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LK searched the literature and prepared the paper. IA reviewed the literature and contributed to writing and reviewing the paper. CT contributed to reviewing the paper. KT proposed the topic and had the general oversight.

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Correspondence to Konstantinos Tsioufis.

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Koskina, L., Andrikou, I., Thomopoulos, C. et al. Preexisting hypertension and cancer therapy: evidence, pathophysiology, and management recommendation. J Hum Hypertens 37, 331–337 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-023-00825-x

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/s41371-023-00825-x

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