[Subclinical markers of liver damage in patients with arterial hypertension and obesity].

AIM: To investigate the possibility of preclinical detection of liver damage in patients with hypertension and obesity. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 168 patients with hypertension aged 30 to 60 years. All patients underwent general clinical and laboratory-instrumental examination, including ultrasound of the abdominal organs with Doppler assessment of blood flow and determination of markers such as ALT, AST, TG, lipid profile indicators at inclusion, after a month, three months and nine months. RESULTS: Depending on the presence of obesity, all patients with hypertension were divided into two groups. Obese patients had a statistically significant increase in office blood pressure, FSI, the ratio of TG and LDL-C to HDL-C, a more significant higher average levels of glucose, TG and ALT levels, as well as impaired hepatic blood flow according to ultrasound. CONCLUSION: Indicators of FSI, ALT/AST ratio, ratio of TG and LDL-С to HDL-C as well as assessment of hepatic blood flow indicators can be used for early diagnosis of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease, as they predict liver steatosis.

[Obesity in metabolic syndrome, as well as kidney dysfunction]. / Ozhirenie pri metabolicheskom sindrome i pochechnaia disfunktsiia.

The presence of metabolic syndrome (MS) in a patient allows him to be assigned to a group at high risk for atherosclerosis, cardiovascular events, coronary heart disease, and type 2 diabetes mellitus. In addition, MS negatively affects not only the heart and vessels, but also kidney function, which leads to chronic kidney disease (CKD). MS is pathogenetically associated with CKD and is an independent prognostic factor of the development of the latter, namely, the involvement of the kidney frequently determines prognosis and quality of life in these patients. The paper gives a modern view on the concept of MS and CKD and considers its main diagnostic criteria, etiology, and pathogenesis. The study of the relationships between MS and CKD may suggest that the high prevalence of kidney dysfunction in the general population is largely determined by metabolic nephropathies, including obesity-related nephropathy. The identification of risk factors and poor prognostic markers in this category of patients seems to be extremely important for the early diagnosis of the disease and their timely elimination is one of the main approaches to the comprehensive prevention of CKD in these patients.

[Renin inhibitors--new direction in the treatment of arterial hypertension].

The paper covers current problems in the treatment of arterial hypertension. Renin is an important and promising therapeutic target. The direct renin inhibitor aliskiren (Rasilez) is a promising current effective antihypertensive agent that has cardio- and nephroprotective effects. The paper considers a number of clinical studies that have proven the antihypertensive effect of aliskiren and revealed its benefits versus other drugs recommended for blood pressure lowering. It is assumed that this agent may be used in combinations with angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors, thiazide or thiazide-like diuretics, and calcium antagonists. Moreover, aliskiren neutralizes the effect of feedback in the compensatory increase in the activity of plasma renin.