[Hypertension and menopause].

Cardiovascular disease is the leading cause of death among men and women. The cardiovascular risk of the women reaches the men of same age after the menopause. Hypertension is one of the most powerful and prevalent contributor of ahterosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Hypertension affects more men than women until 55 years of age, but after 55 the percentage of women is higher. Estrogen deficiency has been linked to the rapid progression of cardiovascular risk of women after menopause. The biological background of protective effects of estrogen is not fully, but mainly understood yet. It may involve direct effects on blood vessels through modulation of endogen vasoconstrictors and vasodilators, accompanied by systematic effects of the hormone. The main effect of these influences protects the cardiovascular system. After menopause, loss of this protection may unmask a population of women prone to hypertension, who would be at higher risk for cardiovascular disease. The guidelines make no differences apart form gestational hypertension between men and women. This review would like to focus on the clinical relevance and characteristics of postmenopausal hypertension according to the literature.