[Hemodynamics of arterial hypertension]. / Hemodinámica de la hipertensión arterial.

Arterial blood pressure depends on the flow rate and peripheral resistances. Arterial blood pressure is regulated in arterial hypertension (AHT) in a very similar fashion as in normotensive subjects, but the peripheral vessels do not respond properly to increases in the cardiac output. The adrenergic nervous system plays a basic part in the mechanisms which provoke and regulate the AHT. The AHT usually begins with an increase in adrenergic tone and cardiac output: hyperkinetic hypertension. It later develops into an intermediate, normokinetic situation with latent left ventricular malfunction and finally augmented peripheral resistances which will become of organic character in time due to autoregulatory mechanisms.

[The practical aspects of lipid management in secondary prevention]. / Aspectos prácticos del manejo de los lípidos en prevención secundaria.

Secondary prevention of ischaemic heart disease includes the important aim of reducing plasma lipids, as have been suggested by several recent trials focusing both on plaque regression-stabilization and on mortality (4S). The degree of acceptance of recommendations of the different panels of experts, however, has been low. Implementation of these secondary prevention measures in clinical practice requires the understanding of their pathophysiologic and epidemiologic basis, as well as an appropriate spread of experts recommendations and a good relationship of the different levels of health care to cardiac patients.