Microalbuminuria and global myocardial function in patients with essential hypertension [correction of hypertensive].

Introduction: The myocardial performance index, Tei index, is a relatively new echocardiography indice which is related to parameters which express both the systolic and diastolic myocardial function. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the possible correlation of Tei index to microalbuminuria, which is an indice of kidney target-organ damage in hypertensive patients.

Materials And Methods: We evaluated 9680 consecutive patients (mean age 55.

Beneficial effect of angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker antihypertensive treatment on arterial stiffness: the role of smoking.

The purpose of the present study was to assess angiotensin receptor blocker (ARB) treatment on arterial stiffness in select hypertensive patients and define possible differences between smokers and nonsmokers. The authors evaluated 81 consecutive, nondiabetic patients (mean age, 52 years; 47 men) with uncomplicated essential hypertension with high plasma renin activity who were administered monotherapy with irbesartan, an ARB, at maximal dose. Patients were divided into smokers (n=24) and nonsmokers (n=57).

Nocturnal blood pressure fall and metabolic syndrome score in hypertensive patients.

Background: Data relating dipping status to metabolic syndrome (MS) scores are not available. The purpose of this study is to investigate any possible association of different dipping patterns to MS scores in untreated patients with essential hypertension.

Methods: The study included 6256 consecutive, treatment-naive patients with essential hypertension who attended our outpatient clinics.

Beneficial effects of angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker antihypertensive treatment on inflammation indices: the effect of smoking.

The effect of long-term angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker (ARB) therapy on inflammation indices has not been fully investigated in a hypertensive population. The authors evaluated 323 consecutive nondiabetic patients (mean age, 57 years; 176 men; 92 smokers) with high renin activity and uncomplicated essential hypertension whose blood pressure levels normalized (from 163.9/100.

Effects of antihypertensive treatment with angiotensin II receptor blockers on lipid profile: an open multi-drug comparison trial.

Introduction: Dyslipidaemia is associated with high risk for cardiovascular disease and lipid management is arguably necessary, especially in hypertensive subjects. There is an implication that angiotensin receptor blockers (ARB) are characterised by a beneficial effect on lipid profile in addition to their blood pressure lowering properties. This study was conducted to evaluate blood pressure control and the plasma lipid profile in hypertensive patients after six months' treatment with ARB.