[Statin-associated muscle symptoms: epidemiology, risk factors, mechanisms and treatment].

Statins are widely prescribed and the risk of adverse drug reactions of lipid-lowering therapy is actively discussed, including muscle symptoms. This review synthesizes the knowledge about the clinical aspects of statin-associated muscle symptoms, which is important for the practitioner. Potential mechanisms of their development, risk factors, clinical manifestations, treatment and prevention are described. Timely detection the side effects of statins makes it possible to diagnose and eliminate, which is crucial for conducting lipid-lowering therapy for patients with atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases. Management of statin-associated muscle symptoms requires altering (reduced dosages, use of another statin or alternative lipid-lowering drugs) or discontinuing the statin treatment.

[Optimization of digitalis therapy in clinical practice].

In recent years there has been a marked decrease in cardiac glycosides use in patients with heart failure in sinus rhythm and atrial fibrillation. The results of published studies contradict each other. Some of them doubt the favorable effect of digoxin in patients with heart failure; others refute the increase in the lethality and frequency of hospitalizations associated with the use of digoxin. In this regard, we found it important to analyze these reports impartially and reflect modern views on the mechanisms of cardiac glycosides, the pharmacokinetics and the possibility of optimizing digitalis therapy in cardiac practice.

ACE inhibitors captopril and enalapril induce regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in hypertensive patients with chronic renal failure.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular hypertrophy is frequently noted in patients with moderate to severe chronic renal failure not requiring dialysis. Recently, several studies have shown reversal of myocardial hypertrophy in end-stage renal disease with long-term pharmacological control of blood pressure, but it is unclear whether left ventricular mass regresses or normalizes with antihypertensive treatment of patients with earlier stages of chronic renal failure. METHODS: Seventy-two undialysed patients with chronic renal failure, chronic mild-to-moderate hypertension, and left ventricular hypertrophy were randomly assigned in a prospective study to either the captopril (n = 36) or enalapril group (n = 36). Blood pressure measurements, echocardiographic and Doppler parameters were evaluated before treatment and at 6 and 12 months of therapy. RESULTS: During follow-up, six patients developed side-effects including dry cough, taste disturbances, skin rash and gastric intolerance. In the captopril group there was a decrease in mean left ventricular mass index by 12% after 6 months of treatment, which decreased by 20% after 12 months treatment. For enalapril, the average reduction of myocardial mass after 6 months treatment was 14% and after 12 months treatment, the decrease was 19%. In both treatment groups there was significant improvement of left ventricular filling dynamics. No deterioration of left ventricular systolic function was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Our results confirm that antihypertensive monotherapy with the ACE inhibitors, captopril and enalapril, in patients with chronic renal failure results in regression of left ventricular mass index associated with a significant improvement in the diastolic function of the left ventricle without a demonstrable deterioration in left ventricular systolic performance.