EPHX2 and Hypertension: Contributing factors to hypertension include elevated activity of the renin-angiotensin system, increased sympathetic activity, and inflammation.185 These factors result in excessive vasoconstriction and increased total peripheral resistance or impaired sodium excretion, increased extracellular fluid volume, and increased cardiac output.22 In many types of hypertension, EET levels are reported to decrease, an effect attributed to an increase in vascular sEH expression.177