A single-center, prospective, observational study on maternal smoking during pregnancy in Greece: The HELENA study.

Introduction: The unequivocal association between exposure to smoke and numerous complications of pregnancy, demonstrated in the last decades, has led to a significant decrease of smoking rates in pregnancy. The aim of the present study was to determine the prevalence of maternal smoking and to elucidate factors predisposing to it among pregnant women in Athens, Greece.

Methods: A population of 1700 pregnant women (mean age: 31.

Postpartum Hypertension.

Purpose Of Review: Hypertension affects approximately 10% of pregnancies and may persist in the postpartum period. Furthermore, de novo hypertension may present after delivery, but its exact prevalence is not verified. Both types of hypertension expose the mother to eventually severe complications like eclampsia, stroke, pulmonary edema, and HELLP (hemolysis, elevated liver enzymes, low platelet) syndrome.

Ivabradine and metoprolol in fixed dose combination: When, why and how to use it.

Heart rate is an important factor in coronary artery disease and its manifestations, and as such has been considered as a possible target for therapy. Although in epidemiological, and in less degree, in clinical studies derived indications of a possible pathogenetic role of heart rate in major cardiac diseases, clinical trials did not provided any strong evidence. However, even as a simple risk marker, remains important in the treatment of coronary artery disease and heart failure.

MicroRNAs in Preeclampsia.

Preeclampsia (PE) continues to represent a worldwide problem and challenge for both clinicians and laboratory-based doctors. Despite many efforts, the knowledge acquired regarding its pathogenesis and pathophysiology does not allow us to treat it efficiently. It is not possible to arrest its progressive nature, and the available therapies are limited to symptomatic treatment.

Optimizing the Management of Uncontrolled Hypertension: What do Triple Fixed-Dose Drug Combinations Add?

Fixed-dose triple drug combinations represent one of the latest innovations of pharmacotherapy for hypertension (HT). They combine a traditional renin-angiotensin system blocker, a diuretic and a calcium channel blocker. The main benefit is the simplification of treatment regimen because 3 different agents are combined at different doses in a single pill.