The possible association of hypertension with vascular collagen-IV has been addressed previously, in smaller cohorts of human tissue (N=14–27).15–17,25 In accord with our data, putaminal microvascular collagen-IV did not differ between older people with or without hypertension.25 By contrast, others reported BM thickening in hypertensive people, claimed to be due to laminin and collagen-IV (although these data were observational, not quantitative).17 There are several previous studies in experimental animals. The gene discussed is LAMB2; the disease is hypertensive disorder.