What are the long-term effects of chronic diseases on tissue structure?
Chronic diseases such as diabetes, hypertension, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) can lead to significant alterations in tissue structure over time. For instance, in diabetes mellitus, chronic hyperglycemia can result in thickening of the basement membrane, increased mesangial matrix in the kidneys, and microvascular complications in various organs. Similarly, chronic hypertension can cause hypertrophy and hyperplasia of vascular smooth muscle cells, leading to increased arterial stiffness.
