Physician cardiovascular disease risk factor management: practices in France vs the United States.

Cardiovascular risk factor management by French vs US primary care physicians was studied. A survey was conducted that found that French physicians spend >20 minutes while US physicians spend five to 10 minutes (P<.001) addressing cardiovascular risk with patients.

[Pregnancy hypertension].

Hypertension occurs in 6-8% of pregnancies, preeclampsia in 2%, found to be "severe" in 0.6%. Preeclampsia remains a major cause of foetal, and even maternal, mortality.

[Microalbuminuria and urinary albumin excretion: clinical practice guidelines].

Unlabelled: Measurement of urinary albumin excretion (UAE) may be done on a morning urinary sample or on a 24 hours-urine sample. Values defining microalbuminuria are: 24 hour-urine sample: 30-300 mg/24 hours; morning urine sample: 20-200 mg/ml or 30-300 mg/g creatinine or 2.5-25 mg/mmol creatinine (men) or 3.

[Hypertension in women after menopause].

Menopause coincides with an increase in the incidence of hypertension in women. A direct role of estrogen deprivation in this increased blood pressure remains a topic of debate. Menopause probably accelerates the arterial changes related to aging.

Pathophysiology of preeclampsia: links with implantation disorders.

The phenomenon of implantation anchors the embryo into the uterine wall and produces a hemochorial placenta that maintains the pregnancy and fetal growth. Implantation and placentation are intimately linked and cannot be dissociated either in time or in space. Preeclampsia is characterized by hypertension and proteinuria.

[Hypertension in pregnancy].

Hypertension is the most common medical complication of pregnancy. Isolated and moderate hypertensions most often have an uneventful course. On the contrary, preeclampsia is a severe condition, that threatens the fetal survival, and even maternal prognosis.