Education, cardiovascular risk factors and blood pressure control in hypertensive outpatients.

Background: The lack of knowledge of hypertension and other cardiovascular risk factors continues to be a major challenge for blood pressure (BP) control and effective prevention of cardiovascular disease.

Aim: This prospective, single-centre, open-label, randomised study was designed to evaluate the impact of education on cardiovascular risk control and target BP values in hypertensive outpatients.

Methods: We studied 201 consecutive hypertensive outpatients during the first outpatient visit.

[Role of inflammation in etiology of atrial fibrillation--is lone arrhythmia really alone].

We present the case study of recurrent AF episodes initially considered as a lone arrhythmia. Due to elevated C-reactive protein and fibrinogen serum levels with absence of other potential risk factors of arrhythmia and diseases underlying the genesis of inflammatory response we consider the plays a prominent role in etiology in perpetuation and maintenance of AF. Additional use of atorvastatin to a conventional therapy leads to significant reduction of C-reactive protein and fibrinogen and improves effect of long-term sinus rhythm maintenance.