Hypertension as a cardiovascular risk factor in autoimmune rheumatic diseases

Hypertension is highly prevalent in patients with systemic autoimmune and chronic inflammatory joint diseasesImmune-mediated mechanisms and chronic inflammation have been demonstrated to have a relevant role in the pathogenesis of hypertensionIn systemic autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases, hypertension is a contributing factor to subclinical atherosclerosis and cardiovascular eventsPatients with systemic autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases benefit from routine screening of hypertension given the evidence for underdiagnosis and undertreatment of elevated blood pressure in these patientsInternational evidence-based guidelines are needed for appropriate treatment of hypertension in patients with systemic autoimmune and chronic inflammatory diseases to reduce long-term, adverse cardiovascular outcomes