[Salt consumption and arterial hypertension: are there reasons to change point of view?].

The review presents modern data on interrelationships between sodium consumption, blood pressure level, and risk of cardiovascular complications. Phenomenon of salt sensitivity and methods of its detection are described. Results of epidemiological and interventional studies are used as a basis for formulation of populational strategy of limitation of sodium consumption.

[Statins in primary prophylaxis of cardiovascular diseases].

The review summarises data on statins efficacy in primary prophylaxis of cardiovascular complications. Main results of the JUPITER (Justification for the Use of statins in Prevention: an Intervention Trial Evaluating Rosuvastatin) trial are analysed in detail. Its role in possible changes in current recommendations on prophylaxis and treatment of atherosclerosis is shown.

[Cistatin C as a novel marker of renal function impairement and cardiovascular risk].

Impairment of renal function beginning from subclinical stages is independent risk factor of development of cardiovascular diseases and cardiovascular death. Cystatin C is considered in recent years as an alternative marker of functional state of the kidney and risk of development of cardiovascular diseases. Cystatin C is a protease inhibiting protein with low molecular mass which is characterized by free glomerular filtration and is not subjected to tubular secretion.

[Independent diagnostic value of microalbuminuria and calculated glomerular filtration rate in patients with arterial hypertension for detection of subclinical renal involvement].

In 734 patients with arterial hypertension without established diseases of cardiovascular system (including 158 patients with diabetes mellitus) we compared various methods of assessment of functional state of the kidney (microalbuminuria, creatinine, calculation of creatinine clearance and glomerular filtration rate) for detection of subclinical renal involvement and assessment of cardiovascular risk. We showed that determination of microalbuminuria and calculation of glomerular filtration rate (MDRD equation) had independent and mutual complementary diagnostic value, and allowed to identify patients with pathogenetically different renal lesions, reflected proteinuric and nonpoteinuric mechanisms of progression of nephropathy in arterial hypertension with and without diabetes mellitus.