[Heart failure following lumbar surgery].

High-output heart failure may be caused by an arteriovenous fistula. A case is reported of an arteriovenous fistula following discectomy.

Do catecholamines influence the level of plasma leptin in patients with phaeochromocytoma?

The relationship between plasma leptin and catecholamine concentrations during chronic and acute catecholamine excess is studied. Patients with phaeochromocytoma, divided according to gender, were examined under basal conditions (n = 18) and at selected time-points during surgical removal of the tumour (n = 12). Appropriate controls were used (n = 23) for the basal study.

Do catecholamines influence the level of plasma leptin in patients with phaeochromocytoma?

The relationship between plasma leptin and catecholamine concentrations during chronic and acute catecholamine excess is studied. Patients with phaeochromocytoma, divided according to gender, were examined under basal conditions (n=18) and at selected time-points during surgical removal of the tumour (n=12). Appropriate controls were used (n=23) for the basal study.

Effects of the correction of renal artery stenosis on blood pressure, renal function and left ventricular morphology.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of renal artery stenosis (RAS) correction in hypertensive patients on 24 h SBP, 24 h DBP, creatinine clearance (GFR), urinary albumin excretion (UAE) and LV morphology and mass (LVMI). A total of 61 hypertensive patients with RAS undergoing PTRA and/or surgical treatment entered the prospective study. The final analysis was done in 44 patients (age range 45.

Plasma fibrinogen as a risk factor for restenosis after percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty in patients with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis.

Background: In contrast to those for coronary restenosis, the data regarding the risk factors for renal restenosis are limited.

Objective: To evaluate potential humoral risk factors for restenosis after percutaneous transluminal renal angioplasty (PTRA).

Methods: We studied 27 patients aged 54+/-10 years with atherosclerotic renal artery stenosis in a 1-year prospective follow-up.

Blood pressure, plasma NPY and catecholamines during physical exercise in relation to menstrual cycle, ovariectomy, and estrogen replacement.

Some evidences indicate that the female sex hormones protect against the development of cardiovascular diseases. Modulation of sympathetic activity may be one of the possibilities. We investigated the influence of treadmill stress on blood pressure (BP) and plasma neuropeptide Y (NPY), norepinephrine (NE) and epinephrine (E) concentrations in 11 normotensive, menstruating women in the follicular (HWf) and luteal (HWl) phases and in eight ovariectomized women, before (OVX) and after estrogen supplementation (OVXe).

Secondary hypertension in the elderly.

This paper discusses the most significant aspects of secondary hypertension in older patients against the background of a rising proportion of elderly in the hypertensive population. Renal artery stenosis and pheochromocytoma are singled out as those causes of secondary hypertension which appear to be related to older age. The available data relevant to epidemiology of these conditions and age-dependent clinical characteristics are reviewed.

Evaluation of plasma aldosterone to plasma renin activity ratio in patients with primary aldosteronism.

The plasma aldosterone to renin activity ratio (A/PRA) was assessed retrospectively in 103 patients with primary aldosteronism including 74 patients with surgically proven adrenal cortical adenoma (APA) and 29 patients with idiopathic adrenal cortical hyperplasia (IHA). The results were compared with those obtained in 31 patients with essential hypertension (EH) and 45 healthy normotensive controls. The upper limit of normal A/PRA ratio, as obtained in the controls was 17.

Pathogenesis of essential hypertension--present views.

The paper reviews the main lines of research pertaining to modern understanding of pathogenesis of essential hypertension. Attention is focused on the role of sympathetic activity, including the neuropeptide Y, as well as on those of atrial natriuretic peptide, endothelins and nitric oxide. The concept of endothelial dysfunction is discussed as a possible factor contributing to the development of hypertension, but also as its sequel.

Postural stimulation test in patients with aldosterone producing adenomas.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the postural stimulation test before and after surgical treatment in patients with aldosterone-producing adenomas.

Design: The retrospective study was made on patients with aldosterone producing adenomas.

Patients: The postural stimulation test was analysed in 60 patients with surgically proven aldosterone producing adenoma and in 15 healthy volunteers.

Elevated endothelin-1 plasma concentration in patients with essential hypertension.

Background: Endothelin-1 (ET-1) may play an important role in the development and maintenance of hypertensive states. In patients with essential hypertension, ET-1 plasma concentration increases or remains unchanged. The aim of the present study was to investigate ET-1 plasma concentration in patients with mild-to-moderate essential hypertension and its interrelationship with catecholamines, neuropeptide Y and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP).

[Giant cell arteritis--presentation of 3 cases].

Three patients with giant cell arteritis (GCA) observed recently in our department are described. One of them demonstrated clinical picture of polymyalgia rheumatica, the other two presented with clinical symptoms of GCA. This presentation seems to be very helpful for correct diagnosis in cases with difficult recognition.

[Isometric exercise and cold pressor test in young men with a family history of essential hypertension].

An exaggerated pressor reaction to the isometric exercise and cold pressor test (CPT) is found to be a predictor or future hypertension. In the two groups of young males: 51 men with positive family history of essential hypertension (EH) (mean age: 24.3 +/- 3.

[Blood pressure in young men with a family history of primary hypertension--traditional and 24-hour blood pressure measurements].

Blood pressure was measured in two groups of young males-group S-55 men with positive family history of essential hypertension (EH) and group K-11 men with negative family history of EH (mean age 24.5 +/- 3.3 and 23.

[Young men with a positive family history of hypertension have higher values in a circadian blood pressure profile].

Non-invasive automatic 24-h indirect monitoring of blood pressure was performed in two groups of young males - group S - 55 men with positive family history of essential hypertension (EH) (mean age 24.6 +/- 3.6 years) and group K - 11 men with negative family history of EH (23.

[Augmented activity of the adrenal medulla in young men with positive family history of essential hypertension].

Serum adrenaline (AD) and noradrenaline (NA) were measured by RIA method in two groups of young males: group S (n = 54) with positive family history of essential hypertension (EH) and group K (n = 9) with negative family history of EH (mean age: 24.6 +/- 3.3 i 23.

Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentration in patients with pheochromocytoma.

The interaction between catecholamines (CA) and ANP is not clearly established. The effects of excess endogenous CA on ANP secretion can be investigated in patients with pheochromocytoma. We studied 27 patients with surgically and histologically proven pheochromocytoma (P) aged 19-70 years.

[Effect of hemodialysis on the level of serum digoxin-like substance and sodium-potassium pump activity in erythrocytes from patients with chronic renal failure].

Digoxin-like immunoreactivity (DLS) and erythrocyte sodium-potassium pump (PSP) activity were measured in a group of 16 patients with chronic renal failure (CRF) before and just after haemodialysis and in a group of 9 healthy persons. Before haemodialysis DLS was present in the blood of most CRF patients, at the mean concentration of 0,14 +/- 0,13 micrograms/l. After haemodialysis DLS concentration decreased to 0,09 +/- 0,09 microgram/l (p less than 0,01).

[Primary arterial hypertension. Treatment with captopril and function of the left heart ventricle, concentration of catecholamine in blood and activity of renin].

We evaluated the effect of captopril treatment on left ventricular mass (LVM) and function in sustained mild-to-moderate primary hypertension. In 16 men aged 34.5 +/- 6.

[Does hormonal activity of pheochromocytoma affect long-term prognosis in surgically treated patients?].

89 patients were operated upon for pheochromocytoma. 61 patients (37 women and 24 men) were available for follow-up. Mean age at operation was 39 +/- 12.