Linkage mapping for hypertension susceptibility genes.

Several approaches based on linkage methods have been used to identify susceptibility genes for hypertension. Tests of candidate genes for essential hypertension have generally relied on the combination of linkage and association studies, and have given mostly negative or relatively conflicting results between studies. The detailed exploration of a candidate region, eg, a region of human homology to a principal quantitative trait locus for blood pressure variation in the rat, has led to the identification of linkage to a susceptibility locus for hypertension in humans. Studies of rare Mendelian forms of hypertension have enabled us to identify causative genes in several instances, and to detect mere linkages to chromosomal regions in other instances. Whether molecular variants at these genes are pathophysiologically involved in the common form of hypertension remains to be established. Finally, genome-wide linkage studies for essential hypertension are currently in progress. Confirming linkage to particular regions or genes with a high statistical significance in essential hypertension may prove difficult, therefore, other lines of evidence for a particular gene's role in hypertension susceptibility, derived from either studies in animal models, studies of Mendelian forms of hypertension, or from association studies, may prove to be crucial.