A common virus, usually devoid of symptoms, may play a role in hypertension according to a new study published in the peer-reviewed journal PLoS Pathogens.

The Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infection infects between 50% and 80% of US adults by the time they are 40 years old and can cause serious illnesses, primarily in infants, although most people who have it never show any symptoms. However, researchers have found evidence that CMV causes an increase in rennin and angiotensin II, and when combined with a high cholesterol diet causes atherosclerotic plaque formation, which are all known to increase blood pressure.

“Increased expression of both renin and angiotensin II are important factors in hypertension in humans,” Dr. Crumpacker, one of the lead researchers. “What our study seems to indicate is that a persistent viral infection in the vessels’ endothelial cells is leading to increased expression of inflammatory cytokines, renin and angiotensin II, which are leading to increased blood pressure.”

The research indicates that antivirus treatments may be helpful in treating hypertension, although more research is needed.

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The quote was found taken from “Virus Linked to High Blood Pressure” by By Michael Smith, North American Correspondent, MedPage Today. Published: May 14, 2009. Can be found online at http://www.medpagetoday.com/Nephrology/Hypertension/14214.

“Cytomegalovirus Infection Causes an Increase of Arterial Blood Pressure.” Cheng J, Ke Q, Jin Z, Wang H, Kocher O, et al. 2009. PLoS Pathog 5(5): e1000427. doi:10.1371/journal.ppat.1000427. Viewed online at http://www.plospathogens.org/article/info%3Adoi%2F10.1371%2Fjournal.ppat.1000427

“Cytomegalovirus (CMV) and Congenital CMV Infection” from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention website. Found May 21, 2009 at http://www.cdc.gov/cmv/facts.htm.