Japanese scientists discover possible long-lasting vaccine for high blood pressure

The group said the results, published in
the journal Hypertension, may
eventually lead to a human treatment.
A group of scientists from Japan have
discovered a vaccine that lowers blood
pressure for up to six months at a time,
which they say could spell an end to
daily tablets.
According to the scientists, a simple
injection would be sufficient to control
blood pressure for a prolonged period,
meaning patients would no longer have
to worry about taking their daily
medication.
In the breakthrough research, the team
found that injecting a DNA vaccine into
rats reduced blood pressure for six
months at a time, reducing damage to
the heart and blood vessels as a result.
The group said the results, published in
the journal Hypertension , may eventually
lead to a human treatment.
Doctors have long sought a long-lasting
treatment for high blood pressure that
does not rely on daily medication owing
to the fact that many patients forget to
take their drugs leading to complications
such as heart attacks and kidney disease.
Corroborating this, study author, Dr.
Hironori Nakagami , of Osaka University in
Japan said,
“The potential of a vaccine for
hypertension offers an innovative
treatment that could be very effective for
the control of non-compliance which is
one of the major problems in the
management of hypertensive patients.”