[Heart rate variability in patients with hypertension and left ventricular hypertrophy].

The aim of the study was to analyse the heart rate variability (HRV) in patients with moderate essential hypertension complicated by left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). Forty-two patients with untreated essential hypertension participated in the study group and 45 normotensives (16M, 29F, age 49.8 +/- 5.

[Heart rate variability in patients after coronary artery bypass grafting--early and long term effects of cardiac rehabilitation].

Patients after coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) have impaired heart rate variability (HRV) parameters. The clinical significance of impaired HRV and the influence of the cardiac rehabilitation on the HRV in this group of patients is not clear. We studied 103 patients (average age 52.

[The influence of percutaneous coronary recanalization of total coronary occlusions on the heart rate variability ].

In patients following a myocardial infarction, heart rate variability is an important prognostic factor. Decreased heart rate variability is associated with a higher mortality rate. This study evaluated the influence of recanalisation by percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in totally occluded coronary arteries on the heart rate variability in patients with myocardial akinesis in the recanalised artery area.

Maternal and paternal influences on left ventricular mass of offspring.

Significant intrafamilial correlations of left ventricular mass exist in first-degree relatives. However, the specific maternal and paternal influences on left ventricular mass of offspring remain unknown. We therefore evaluated familial aggregation of left ventricular mass by type of familial relation in two European populations.

Quality of life on randomized treatment for isolated systolic hypertension: results from the Syst-Eur Trial.

Objective: To compare quality of life in elderly patients with isolated systolic hypertension allocated randomly to groups to receive placebo or active treatment in the Systolic Hypertension in the Elderly Trial.

Design: Double-blind randomized controlled trial.

Methods: Patients aged 60 years were allocated randomly to groups to receive first-line treatment with nitrendipine (with second- and third-line enalapril and hydrochlorothiazide) or placebo.

Quality control of the blood pressure phenotype in the European Project on Genes in Hypertension.

Objectives: In the European Project on Genes in Hypertension (EPOGH) standardized epidemiological methods were used to determine complex phenotypes consisting of blood pressure (BP) in combination with other traits. In this report, we present the quality control of one of the BP phenotypes.

Methods: In seven European countries eight different research groups recruited random samples of nuclear families.

Verapamil improves the pacing-induced vasodilatation in symptomatic patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The purpose of the study was to assess the effect of verapamil on the response of diastolic coronary flow velocity and coronary vascular resistance to pacing in symptomatic patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. In 14 patients with hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, the coronary flow velocity was detected in the left anterior descending coronary artery using transthoracic Doppler echocardiography. The peak diastolic coronary flow velocity and coronary vascular resistance was measured at baseline and during pacing.

Insulin resistance and lipids in hypertensive women on hormone replacement therapy.

Hypertension, hyperinsulinaemia and dyslipidaemia are strong and independent risk factors for cardiovascular diseases. Their increasing frequency in postmenopausal women suggests that oestrogen deficiency may be a contributing factor. It is well known that oestrogen replacement therapy in postmenopausal women improves carbohydrate and lipid metabolism, but the effect of combined hormone replacement therapy (HRT) remains unclear.