[Blood pressure lowering efficacy of beta-blockers added to monotherapy with a thiazid or a calcium antagonist--a survey of a Cochrane review].

A blood pressure fall of 6-8/4-6 mmHg is seen when a beta-blocker is added to a thiazid or a calcium antagonist. Due to less protection against cardiovascular complications, most likely explained by an insufficient reduction in the central aortic blood pressure profile betablockers, especially atenolol, is no longer first choice treatment for hypertension, unless ischaemic heart disease or heart failure is present.

[Management of hypertension in the hypertension clinic].

Introduction: A recent Cochrane report concluded that an effective system for hypertension control has yet to be identified. This manuscript presents results from four years' work in a nurse-guided hypertension clinic. The aim of the hypertension clinic was to reduce the number of physician-consultations and to optimize hypertension treatment.

Treating the hypertensive patient in a nurse-led hypertension clinic.

Aims: This manuscript presents results from 4 years experience in a nurse-led hypertension clinic. The aim of the hypertension clinic was to optimize hypertension treatment and to reduce the number of physician consultations.

Materials And Methods: All patients were initially examined by cardiologists.

[Hypertension and the heart].

Within the latest ten years research in left ventricular hypertrophy as cardiac target organ damage has uncovered its prognostic importance, and studies indicate that treatment with angiotensin II receptor blockade is most effective in reducing left ventricular hypertrophy. In addition, reduction of left ventricular mass is associated with substantial and significant reduction of cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Hypertension is strongly associated with increased risk of subsequent heart failure.

[Insufficient blood pressure control following coronary revascularization].

Introduction: After coronary revascularization, anti-angina treatment is often withdrawn or reduced while the ejection fraction tends to improve. Both contribute to increase blood pressure (BP). The purpose of the present study was to evaluate BP control in patients after revascularization procedures.

Treatment with beta-blockers in nurse-led heart failure clinics: titration efficacy and predictors of failure.

Background: Beta-blockers (BBs) are a cornerstone in the treatment of chronic heart failure (HF), but several surveys have documented that many patients are not offered treatment or are not titrated to target doses. In part to address this problem, specialized, nurse-led HF clinics have been initiated in many countries. However, little information is available to describe if such programs are successful in initiating and up-titrating BBs in daily clinical practice.

Isolated systolic hypertension in an elderly Danish population. Prevalence and daytime ambulatory blood pressure.

Isolated systolic hypertension (ISH) is a major risk factor for cardiovascular complications. Nevertheless, data on the prevalence in a representative population do not seem to be available. The prevalence of ISH and the white coat effect was thus studied in a cross-sectional survey of 2806 inhabitants aged 70-80 years.

[Management of patients with myocardial rupture after acute myocardial infarction].

Ventricular free wall rupture resulting in pericardial tamponade and shock is a known complication of myocardial infarction. In recent years, the widespread availability of echocardiographia has enabled prompt diagnosis. We report a patient with left ventricular free wall rupture in its most severe form who survived after surgical intervention.