EDN1 and hypertensive disorder: Vascular changes in response to ACEs, including an elevated aortic augmentation index in adolescence (a risk factor for future CVD) [35], elevated plasma ET-1 level (a potent vasoconstrictor) in adolescents [36], and reduced activation of regions of the brain involved in the cardiovascular response to stress [37] may be additional contributing physiologic mechanisms to high blood pressure.