Prehypertension is associated with peripheral arterial disease and low ankle-brachial index.

Patients with prehypertension suffer endothelial dysfunction and are at increased cardiovascular risk. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) constitutes an efficient tool for diagnosing peripheral arterial disease; but also an ABI<0.9 is an independent and positive predictor of endothelial dysfunction and is associated with increased cardiovascular risk and mortality. THE AIM: of this study was testing whether ABI was decreased in prehypertensive patients when compared with normotensive subjects. METHODS: We included 70 prehypertensive patients older than 19 years, in whom the ABI was registered with a 5 megahertz Doppler (Summit Doppler L250, Life Dop., USA). The highest ankle systolic pressure was divided by the highest brachial systolic pressure. We also included 70 normotensive subjects in whom the ABI was registered in the same way. The measurements were performed by the same physician who was blinded about the study. Statistical analysis was performed with odds ratio and student t-test. RESULTS: The ABI values in normotensive subjects were 1.023±0.21, whereas prehypertensive patients significantly had lower ABI (0.90±0.14p=0.00012). We found ABI <0.9 in 30 prehypertensive patients (42.85%) and 13 normotensive patients (18.5%). The odds ratio of ABI <0.90 in prehypertensive patients was 3.288 (IC95 1.5-7.0, p=0.0023). A regression analysis failed to show any independent association between ABI values and any other clinical parameter. CONCLUSIONS: Prehypertensive patients had lower ABI and higher prevalence of peripheral artery disease when compared with normotensive subjects; this fact increases their cardiovascular risk. ABI must be included in global evaluation of prehypertensive subjects.

Circulating Levels of Uric Acid and Risk for Metabolic Syndrome.

Hyperuricemia leads to insulin resistance, whereas insulin resistance decreases renal excretion of uric acid, both mechanisms link elevated serum uric acid with metabolic syndrome. The aim of this study is to evaluate the probability for the development of metabolic syndrome in low-income young adults with hyperuricaemia. METHODS: We evaluated 103 patients less than 40 years of age, from a low-income population, and without history of cardiovascular disease, in all of them the presence of metabolic syndrome was assessed in accordance with the International Diabetes Federation criteria. In all patients, fasting serum uric acid levels were measured; hyperuricaemia was defined as serum uric acid values 6.5 mg/dl in men and 5.1 mg/dl in women. Statistical analysis was performed with odds ratio. RESULTS: 83 of our patients (80.5%) suffered metabolic syndrome, the odds ratio for the presence of metabolic syndrome in patients with hyperuricaemia was 5.1 (p=0.002, I.C 1.8- 14.5). When patients were evaluated by gender a significantly association between hyperuricaemia and metabolic syndrome was found in women (odds ratio 3.6, p=0.048, C.I. 1.0-12.9), and men (odds ratio 10.2, p= 0.015, IC 1.5-13.2). When uric acid was correlated with the components of metabolic syndrome, we only found a positive correlation with waist circumference (r=0.483). CONCLUSION: Our results showed a significant association between hyperuricemia and metabolic syndrome in low-income young adults in Mexico. DR is associated with estimated risk of CVD in type 2 diabetic patients.

Effect of losartan combined with amlodipine or with a thiazide on uric acid levels in hypertensive patients.

Hyperuricemia leads to endothelial dysfunction and insulin resistance, and has been associated with diseases such as hypertension. Antihypertensive drugs modify serum uric acid levels, however, few data are available about their combinations on uricemia. In this study we evaluate the effect of two combinations of losartan, with amlodipine or with hydrochlorothiazide, on serum uric acid levels in hypertensive patients. METHODS: A total of 60 hypertensive patients were randomized in two groups; group LA received losartan/amlodipine (100/5 mg) once a day, whereas LH group received losartan hydrochlorothiazide (100/12.5 mg) once a day for 3 months. In both groups serum uric acid levels were measured at the beginning and end of the study. Patients were evaluated monthly for blood pressure (BP) and adverse events. Statistical analysis was performed with a two-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) for repeated measures. RESULTS: All patients experienced a significant reduction of BP to the same extent (LA 155/94 to 123/79, LH 157/92 to 124/78 mmHg, p > 0.05). In the LA group, serum uric acid decreased from 6.5 ± 1.6 to 4.6 ± 1.3 mg/ml ( p = 0.0001), whereas in the LH group there was a nonsignificant increase from 5.82 ± 1.4 to 5.85 ± 1.5 mg/ml, ( p = 0.936). When both groups were compared, we found a significant reduction ( p < 0.00013) on serum uric acid levels in the LA group. CONCLUSIONS: Both combinations decrease BP values to the same extent, however, LA combination showed a reduction on serum uric acid levels, which may contribute to a reduction in the metabolic risk in hypertensive patients.

Lifestyle changes and surgical treatment for hypertension in the elderly.

Hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor that increases morbidity and mortality in the elderly because, numerous factors contribute to development and progression of hypertension in elderly patients, including excessive salt intakes, obesity, physical inactivity and stress. Hypertension treatment usually results in a combination of both, pharmacologic and non-pharmacologic measures. These latter are an essential part of treatment and cannot be replaced by the medication. Non pharmacologic management known as lifestyle modifications has a pivotal role in non-hypertensive and hypertensive individuals. In case of non-hypertensive or pre-hypertensive patients it can prevent hypertension development and in hypertensive people it has the capacity to lower blood pressure levels as well as modify cardiovascular complications. Older people tend more often to treatment resistance so it is increasingly necessary to have other therapeutic resources for patients with difficult control of disease. Minimally invasive techniques are developing that might improve the course of the disease and prevent its complications by a more extended time.In this chapter, we will review components of nonpharmacological treatment of hypertension focusing on the geriatric patient.

Recommendations for the treatment of hypertension in elderly people.

High blood pressure is a major cardiovascular risk factor. The prevalence of hypertension increases with aging. As a consequence of changes in arterial wall that leads to arterial stiffness, the majority of elderly patients suffer isolated systolic hypertension. The evidence strongly supports that hypertension in the elderly is associated with an increase in stroke risk and cardiovascular mortality and morbidity. Several trials have shown the benefits of treating hypertension in elderly patients. Even in the very old patients, the use of antihypertensive agents such as calcium channel blockers, thiazide and thiazide-like diuretics, and inhibitors of the renin-angiotensin system reduce the risk of complications in those patients. However, most patients will need two or more drugs to reach the recommended goals. Hypertension in the elderly has special conditions that must be assessed in the evaluation of the patient (as pseudohypertension and white coat hypertension), and issues that may affect the therapeutic choice and the response to treatment, as comorbidities and polypharmacy.

Diabetic nephropathy and inflammation.

Diabetic nephropathy (DN) is the leading cause of end-stage renal failure worldwide. Besides, diabetic nephropathy is associated with cardiovascular disease, and increases mortality of diabetic patients. Several factors are involved in the pathophysiology of DN, including metabolic and hemodynamic alterations, oxidative stress, and activation of the renin-angiotensin system. In recent years, new pathways involved in the development and progression of diabetic kidney disease have been elucidated; accumulated data have emphasized the critical role of inflammation in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy. Expression of cell adhesion molecules, growth factors, chemokines and pro-inflammatory cytokines are increased in the renal tissues of diabetic patients, and serum and urinary levels of cytokines and cell adhesion molecules, correlated with albuminuria. In this paper we review the role of inflammation in the development of diabetic nephropathy, discussing some of the major inflammatory cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy, including the role of adipokines, and take part in other mediators of inflammation, as adhesion molecules.