Are we on the path to solve the enigma of resistant hypertension: renal sympathetic denervation.

Renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) opens new perspectives and possibilities not only in the treatment of resistant hypertension but also of other cardiometabolic diseases. In patients with hypertension, it has been demonstrated that activity of the sympathetic nervous system correlates with grade of hypertension. Decreasing sympathetic activity using RSD significantly reduces blood pressure in resistant hypertension. It is too early to say a definite opinion about appropriateness of this method in the treatment of resistant hypertension, because there are not great studies with huge number of the patients. After we get and evaluate these results through a longer span of time, only than we shall know what is the role of RSD in the treatment of resistant hypertension and other cardiometabolic conditions related to increased function of the sympathetic nervous system, such as heart failure, diabetes mellitus, obstructive sleep apnea, renal disease with microalbuminuria and macroalbuminuria.

Glucosa-Insulin-Potassium (GIK) solution used with diabetic patients provides better recovery after coronary bypass operations.

INTRODUCTION: Tight blood glucose control has become a therapeutical goal for anesthetic management for patients scheduled for cardiac surgery, especially if they are diabetic patients. AIM: This study was created to confirm the benefits of intraoperative GIK solution usage during coronary bypass operation of diabetic patients. METHODS: Patients with type 1 and 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) referred for coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) were randomized to receive GIK solution (GIK--study group) in the first 24 hours intraoperatively or to receive official Clinical protocol without GIK solution (non GIK - control group). The primary clinical outcome was the cardiac index (CI) since it represents the most sensitive measure of cardiac work in the immediate postoperative period, and the secondary clinical outcomes were the glycemic control, insulin consumption, duration of mechanical ventilation (MV), potassium level and atrial fibrillation (AF) appearance. RESULTS: One hundred diabetic patients, divided into two groups, were included in the study. The cardiac index did not show a significant difference, although the study group had CI with only minor variations than those of the controlled group, hence the reason we considered the study group as the more stable. The atrial fibrillation showed a difference between two groups, with 14 (28%) patients with postoperative AF in the control group compared with 3 (6%) patients with postoperative AF in the study group. As potassium values were stable in study group, we concluded that it can be one of the reasons for less postoperative AF in this group. The duration of MV showed a significant difference (0,003) between the two groups as well. In the study group the average MV time was 534,38 minutes, compared with the control group with 749,20 minutes. The average value of glucose was 11.1 mmol/l in the control group vs. 9.8 mmol/l in the study group. The study group had less insulin consumption in order to maintain target glycemia (p = 0.001). In the non GIK group average insulin consumption was 44 IJ per patient vs. 28.5 IJ in the GIK group. CONCLUSION: Intraoperative GIK solution given to diabetic patients with CABG operation provides more stable CI, shorter time of MV, more stable values of potassium which provides normal rhythm and less AF onset, less insulin to maintain target glycemia. All the above mentioned provides more stable intraoperative hemodynamic and better recovery of diabetic

On Occasion of the COVID-19 Pandemic - One of the Most Important Dilemma: Vaccinate or Not?

Probably in the history of medicine, doctors were not as united as they are today, in that fight against COVID-19, when the pandemic spread incredibly fast - from East to West, from North to South. The COVID-19 pandemic is likely to have unprecedented and unforeseeable consequences, from those on a worldwide/global level to those at the local level - at the level of local communities and families, and individuals (and not just humans, but all other living beings), of which the future will testify in various ways. The consequences will be political, economic, social, but probably to the greatest degree, the consequences of a health nature - systemic and individual. The death toll is high, despite the therapy being applied. We do not currently have a specific and effective therapy against COVID-19. In addition, we do not have a single clinical study that would support prophylactic therapy that could affect COVID-19. All of the therapeutic options now available to us are based on the experience we have gained in treating SARS and MERS. When the vaccine is discovered, at that moment we will be able to say that we have an appropriate and effective method in fighting against COVID-19. Some historians of medicine believe that voluntary vaccination against COVID-19 would be, not only less politically risky but also more effective in protecting the population from coronavirus. It remains to be seen what the new wave of the COVID-19 pandemic, announced by WHO experts these days, and which is expected in the fall of 2020, will bring us.

Cardiovascular Diseases (CVDs) in COVID-19 Pandemic Era.

INTRODUCTION: COVID-19 is the disease caused by an infection of the SARS-CoV-2 virus, previously known as 2019 Novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) respiratory disease. World Health Organization (WHO) declared the official name as COVID-19 in February 2020 and in 11th March 2020 declared COVID-19 as Global Pandemic. In June 6th 2020, over 7 million cases registered in the world, recovered 3.4 million and death over 402.000. AIM: The aim of this study is to retreive published papers about COVID-19 infection deposited in PubMed data base and analyzed current results of investigations regarding morbidity and mortality rates as consequences of COVID-19 infection and opinions of experts about treatment of afected patients with COVID-19 who have Cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). METHODS: It's used method of descriptive analysis of the published papers with described studies about Corona virus connected with CVDs. RESULTS: After searching current scientific literature (on PubMed till today is deposited more than 1.000 papers about COVID-19 with consequences in almost every medical disciplines), we have acknowledged that till today not any Evidence Based Medicine (EBM) study in the world. Also, there are no unique proposed ways of treatments and drugs to protect patients, especially people over 65 years old, who are very risk group to be affected with COVID-19, including patients with CVDs. Vaccine against COVID-19 is already produced and being in phases of testing in praxis in treatment of COVID-19 at affected patients, but the opinions of experts and common people whole over the world about vaccination are full of controversis. CONCLUSION: Frequent hand washing, avoiding crowds and contact with sick people, and cleaning and disinfecting frequently touched surfaces can help prevent coronavirus infections are the main proposal of WHO experts in current Guidelines, artefacts stored on a web site. Those preventive measures at least can help to everybody, including also the patients who have evidenced CVDs in their histories of illness. Authors analyzed most important dilemmas about all aspects of CVDs, including etipathogenesis, treatment with current drugs and use of potential discovered vaccines against COVID-19 infection, described in scientific papers deposited in PubMed data base.

Guidelines for Editing Biomedical Journals: Recommended by Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

BACKGROUND: Enormous number of medical journals published around the globe requires standardization of editing practice. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article was to enlist main principles of editing biomedical scientific journals adopted at annual meeting of Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia & Herzegovina (AMSB&H). METHODS: The evidence for writing this Guideline was systematically searched for during September 2020 in the PUBMED and GOOGLE SCHOLAR databases. The inclusion criteria were: original studies, systematic reviews, invited expert opinions, guidelines and editorials. The exclusion criteria were narrative reviews and uninvited opinion articles. The retrieved evidence was analyzed by members of the AMSB&H, then discussed at 2020 annual meeting of the AMSB&H and adopted by nominal group technique. RESULTS: In total 14 recommendations were made, based on A to C class of evidence. The editors should educate potential authors and instruct them how to structure their manuscript, how to write every segment of the manuscript, and take care about correct use of statistical tests. Plagiarism detection softwares should be used regularly, and statistical and technical editing should be rigorous and thorough. International standards of reporting specific types of studies should be followed, and principles of ethical and responsible behavior of editors, reviewers and authors should be published on the journal's web site. The editors should insist on registration of clinical studies before submission, and check whether non-essential personal information is removed from the articles; when essential personal information has to be included, an article should not be published without signed informed consent by the patient to whom these information relate. CONCLUSIONS: Principles of editing biomedical scientific journals recommended in this guideline should serve as one of the means of improving medical journals' quality.

Balkan Clinical Research Registry: Established by Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina.

BACKGROUND: From 2013 the World Medical Association's Declaration of Helsinki explicitly requires pre-registration of a study involving human subjects. The registration gives a chance for improvement of design and avoidance of bias. OBJECTIVE: The aim of this article was to describe process of bearing decision to create regional registry of clinical studies for Balkan countries. METHODS: After finding relevant studies about research registries and designing the concept and structure of future regional registry an article was published in IJBH journal. The article was than used as basis for discussion at 2020 meeting of Academy of Medical Sciences of Bosnia and Herzegovina (AMSBH), and final decision was made by the Academy to create the research registry. RESULTS: Regional registry of clinical studies will be under the auspices of AMSBH and web-based, with the option of online registration of new studies. The data required to be entered in the moment of registration relate to key elements of research plan: topic, variables, sample, type of the study and the study population. After applying for registration of a clinical study, the authors will soon receive the review made by the AMSBH expert committee. The application could be accepted, rejected or returned for major or minor revision. After an application is accepted, it will be deposited in the searchable database and given the registration number. CONCLUSION: The AMSBH's decision to create the regional registry of clinical studies will satisfy needs of researchers from Balkan countries in the first place, who share cultural and lingual similarities. It will also help with increasing standards of clinical research in the region.

Effects of fixed combination of lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide on regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with essential hypertension: an opened, multi-centre, prospective clinical trial.

The aim of this trial was to examine the effects of antihypertensive fixed combination of lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide (Lopril H, Bosnalijek dd, Bosnia and Herzegovina) on regression of left ventricular hypertrophy in patients with essential arterial hypertension. We included 297 patients in our trial, aged 54.65+/-9.6 years, with treated or untreated hypertension and with high risk of cardiac events, in an opened trial of therapy based on lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide. Patients from five European countries were followed up for a period of 12 weeks. Duration of treatment was 12 weeks. We adjusted daily doses of lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide after every clinical examination and recorded adverse effects of drugs. In the beginning and after 12 weeks of treatment, 277 patients (93.2%) underwent 2-dimensional echocardiography and there were 186 patients evaluated for efficacy of treatment on left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH). We recorded a regression of index mass LVH (168.56 vs 161.51 g/m2, P<0.0001), and regression was something more in women vs men. We recorded average reduction of left ventricular mass index for patients with LVH (N=186) by 7.05 g/m2 (4.18%) in all patients, by 6.73 g/m2 (3.93%) in men and 7.27 g/m2 (4,37%) in women. The proportion of patients who attained a regression of left ventricular mass tended to be greater in men (54.55% vs 53.21%). This research has proved regression of LVH in more than 53% patients after using fixed combination of lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide.

Fixed combination lisinopril plus hydro-chlorothiazide in the treatment of essential arterial hypertension: an opened, multi-centre, prospective clinical trial.

The aim of this trial was to examine the efficacy and safety of antihypertensive fixed combination lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide (Lopril H, Bosnalijek dd) in the treatment of essential arterial hypertension. In our trial we included 297 patients, aged 54.65+/-9.6 years, with treated or untreated hypertension and with high risk of cardiac events, in an opened trial of therapy based on lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide. Upon the examination by physicians, patients were divided into three groups in accordance with European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension. Patients from five European countries were followed up for a period of 12 weeks. Duration of treatment was 12 weeks. We adjusted daily doses of lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide after every clinical examination and recorded adverse effects of drugs. After 12 weeks of treatment, 288 patients (96%) were evaluated for efficacy, tolerability and safety. In almost 81.5% patients with mild, moderate and severe hypertension, we recorded a reduction in blood pressure to approximately normal values SBP and DBP (140/90 mmHg). Drug-related side-effects occurred in 11 patients (3.66%). The most commonly reported adverse effects associated with lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide were cough (5) and dry mouth (5). This research has proved good efficacy of fixed combination lisinopril plus hydrochlorothiazide with more than 97% patients. Based on subjective estimation by patients: this drug improved quality of life in all cases.

Advantages of renin-angiotensin system blockade in the treatment of cardiovascular diseases.

The renin angiotensin system (RAS) plays a key role in the regulation of cardiovascular function, with angiotensin II being involved in hemodynamic and non-hemodynamic mechanism in the pathophysiology of cardiovascular disease. A number of studies demonstrated that pharamacological modulation of the RAS, either with angiotensin converting (ACE) inhibitor or an angiotensin II receptor blocker (ARB), provides cardiovascular and renal protection. Blockade of the RAS, either with ACE inhibitors or ARBs, decreases cardiovascular morbidity and mortality in high risk patients. ACE inhibitors as well as ARBs are drugs of choice in congestive heart failure, as well as in diabetic nephropathy. Especially, the combined RAS blockade with ACE inhibitors and ARBs was more effective than monotherapy in diabetic or non-diabetic nephropathy with proteinuria. However, this combined RAS blockade was not equally dominant in treatment of hypertension and was not recommended for widespread antihypertensive use.

[Effects of statins on postoperative treatment of patients after aortocoronary bypass grafting]. / Uticaj statina na postoperativni tretman pacijenata operiranih radi ugradnje aortokoronarnih premostenja.

AIM: There are no previous data about the anti-inflammatory effects of hypolipemic agents, statins, in patients after aortocoronary bypass grafting. The aim of this study was to demonstrate effects of simvastatine on postoperative treatment, laboratory findings and pericardial effusion during postoperative period, in patients after aortocoronary bypass grafting procedures. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The study included 80 patients with coronary arterial disease divided in two groups. The study group included 40 patients with coronary ischemic disease subjected to surgical implantation of aortocoronary bypass graft who received standard cardio-surgical postoperative treatment supplemented with 40 mg of simvastatine per day, starting at 8 hours after the patient's extubation until postoperative 14th day. The control group included 40 patients after aortocoronary bypass grafting procedures with standard intensive postoperative treatment. Evaluation included demographic data, surgical reports, postoperative laboratory parameters and echocardiography findings, taken during two days monitoring of postoperative pericardial effusion. Statistical data analysis was conducted using SPSS software. Parametric data were evaluated using Student T-test, while non-parametric data were processed using chi2 test and proportion analysis. Mann-Whitney U test was applied with CI of 95%, i.e., significance level p < 0.05. RESULTS: No significant differences were found between the observed groups with regards to demographic data, number of the implanted aortocoronary bypasses and postoperative laboratory parameters. However, the differences in echocardiographically determined dimensions of postoperative pericardial effusions measured during two days of postoperative observation (between the 3rd and the 14th day postoperative) were significant (p < 0.037, p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: In our study, statin therapy consisting of 40 mg/24 hrs was applied with no side effects and without interaction with the other postoperatively applied medications. Simvastatins, applied in the dosage of 40 mg/24 hrs, efficiently lead to significant reduction of postoperative pericardial effusions in postoperative period. In this limited group of patients, statins have exhibited good anti-inflammatory effects. Statins with standard therapy ought to be included in the early cardio-surgical postoperative period. Anti-inflammatory activities of statins should be further investigation on much larger patient sample. So far, there is no record of a large study of anti-inflammatory activities of hypolipemic agents that could waive the doubts into their effectiveness. It needs to be stressed that no large studies of anti-inflammatory activities of hypolipemic agents in cases of postoperative pericardial effusion were ever conducted.

Is aliskiren superior to inhibitors of angiotensin-converting enzyme and angiotensin receptor blockers in renin-angiotensin system blockade?

The renin-angiotensin system (RAS) plays a crucial role in development of hypertension, heart failure, as well as in the whole process of nephropathy, particularly of diabetic nephropathy, with or without proteinuria. Blockade of RAS plays the key role in the management of hypertension and other cardiovascular diseases. Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors do not provide the full blockade of angiotensin II because it is produced through alternative pathways. Angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) also block the negative feedback of angiotensin II upon renin like ACE inhibitors, leading to a several fold increase in angiotensin II levels. Aliskiren is an orally-active, nonpeptidic, direct inhibitor of renin which simultaneously reduces angiotensin I, angiotensin II and plasma renin activity (PRA). This is the main point of action of aliskiren, making it completely different from ACE inhibitors and ARBs. Aliskiren introduces a new concept into the management of hypertension. However, the question concerning its real role in the management of heart failure and its place in the existing therapeutic schemes with ACE inhibitors, ARBs, beta blockers and antagonists of aldosterone receptor, will be answered by numerous ongoing studies and clinical trials. Aliskiren shows renoprotective and antiproteinuric effects similar to those of ACE inhibitors and ARBs. The available results demonstrate that aliskiren provides a new approach to the antagonism of the RAS, offering possibilities of a more efficacious and effective treatment of hypertension, heart failure and proteinuria in diabetic patient.

Clinical, echocardiographic and echophonocardiographic characteristics of the atrial myxomas in 22 years period.

INTRODUCTION: Atrial myxomas are the most frequent benign tumors of the heart. Left atrial myxomas are about 3-4 times more frequent then right. Clinical findings reveal atrioventricular obstruction symptoms and signs, symptoms and signs of peripheral arteries or pulmonary artery embolisation and/or nonspecific symptoms. AIM: Review of atrial myxomas diagnosed at the Clinic of Cardiology in 20 years period and analysis of clinical characteristics, transthoracic echocardiographic (TTE), transesophageal echocardiographic (TEE), and M-mod echophonographic findings. METHODS: TTE is performed in all, but TEE in 16 patients. Simultaneous M-mod echophonocardiographic examination were performed in 11 patients, when optional equipment was applicable. RESULTS: We found 24 atrial myxomas: 19 (79.2%) in left and 5 (20.810%) in right atrium. 21(87.5%) patients had some of the symptoms, but 3 (12.5%) were asymptomatic. TTE was performed in all patients, but we found 1 (2.4%) false negative result. TEE was performed in 14 (58.3%) patients. Echophonocardiographic recordings showed early diastolic tumor "plop" in 10 patients and unusual late diastolic tumor "plop" in one right atrial myxoma, which has not yet been described. CONCLUSIONS: TTE is a reliable method in diagnosis of atrial myxomas, but not in all cases, while TEE has been found as always reliable. Echophonocardiographic recording is useful for confirmation and understanding of auscultatory finding when applicable.

[Arterial hypertension 2007: Guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension]. / Pristup lijecenju arterijske hipertenzije u svijetlu novih Evropskih smjernica za hipertenziju.

Since the publication of "The Seventh Report of the Joint National Committee on Prevention, Detection, Evaluation, and Treatment of High Blood Pressure" (JNC 7) in 2003 and "2003 European Society of Hypertension-European Society of Cardiology guidelines for the management of arterial hypertension" (ESH/ESC guidelines), no substantial improvement has been made in the control of hypertension. Maybe, publishing of new 2007 Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension will contribute to a more rational and purposeful management of hypertension. The question whether beta blockers will keep their place as the first-line therapy in the new guidelines has been opened. After 30 years of their use in clinical practice, beta blockers have again become the focus of great discussion and controversy. Namely, according to the National Institute for Health and Clinical Excellence (NICE), beta blockers, which were for more than 30 years the first-line therapy for the treatment of high blood pressure, and antihypertensive effects of which were well documented in large randomized placebo controlled studies, have lost the first-line therapy role. Yet the normalization of the blood pressure has been difficult in spite of using the nowadays available drugs. This makes the question of disposal of such drugs even more open and disputable. Taking this into account, the 2007 Guidelines for the Management of Arterial Hypertension have kept beta blockers as the first line therapy. Besides, the separate guidelines for treatment of arterial hypertension and hypercholesterolemia, have been replaced by the new guidelines for management of the integrated cardiovascular risk. According to the Guidelines, the cardiovascular risk score should be applied in the everyday practice. Since cardiovascular risk factors multiply and interact with each other, moderate reduction in several factors will be more beneficial than major reduction in one. Much more than the 2003 ESH/ESC guidelines do, the new 2007 Guidelines emphasize the combined drug therapy using smaller dosages for simultaneous treatment of several cardiovascular risk factors as a replacement for separate management of hypertension alone. Also, there is a new goal of < 130/80 mm Hg for people with established cardiovascular disease including coronary artery disease, diabetes, renal dysfunction, or proteinuria. However, the main benefits of antihypetensive therapy are due to lowering of blood pressure per se.

[Comparison of the coronary angiography and operative findings in coronary diabetic and non-diabetic patients]. / Komparacija koronarografskih i operativnih nalaza na srcu u koronarnih bolesnika sa i bez secerne bolesti.

AIM: To evaluate whether diabetic patients differ from non-diabetic patients when referred for coronary angiography and coronary revascularization procedures regarding previous history, indications for and findings at coronary angiography as well as medications. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Data were prospectively collected on 100 patients referred for consideration of the coronary revascularization. All patients were divided into two groups: 50 diabetic patients with coronary angiography exams and second group of 50 non-diabetic patients also with coronary angiography exams. Data were evaluated statically with SPSS program. We used Leven's variance test with CI: 95% and significance level p < 0.05. RESULTS: Our data were shown no differences in age or sex in the two groups. In diabetic patients group the left ventricle volumes were greater, and more often presented myocardial walls segmental abnormalities, as well as depressed myocardial function (EF < 40%). Coronary angiography exams in diabetic group had shown greater changes in left main, proximal part of all coronary arteries. Three vessel diseases were more often present in diabetic groupe. CONCLUSIONS: Number of bypass grafts were significantlly greater in diabetic groupe, what is expected because of differences in results already presented in our paper. Diabetes mellitus stayed metabolic syndrom which accelerated inflamatory, coagulation and atherotrombotic proccess as one of the main risk factors of the atherosclerosis of all vessels esspecially coronary arteries.

[Statins and cardiovascular diseases]. / Statini i kardiovaskularna oboljenja.

Statins are utilised in the primary and secondary prevention of coronary heart disease, due to their efficacy at lowering lipid levels. However, statins may also prevent atherosclerosis disease by non-lipid or pleiotropic effects, for example, improving endothelial function by promoting the production of NO. By increasing NO production, statins may interfere with atherosclerosis lesion developement, stabilise plaque, inhibit platlet aggregation, improve blood flow and protect against ischaemia. Therofore, the ability of statins to improve endothelial function through the release of NO may partialy account for their beneficial effects at reducing the incidence of cardiovascular events. Other pleiotropic effects of statins, i.e. immunomedulatory, antiinflammatory, antioxidant and antiendothelin effects, also contribute to the reduction of the incidence of major cardiovascular events. Statins have become the basic drugs in high risk cardiovascular patients with hypercholesterolemia. The ATP III update recommends an optional therapeutic target of LDL-C < 1,8 mmol/L in very high risk patients: those with acute coronary syndrome or those with CHD plus diabetes, the metabolic syndrome, multiple-risk factors, or a poorly controlled risk factor. Studies have demonstrated benefit from lipid lowering irrispective of initial LDL-C levels, including those with average levels at baseline.

[Use of beta blockers in chronic heart failure]. / Primjena beta blokatora kod hronicnog zatajivanja srca.

Once contraindicated, beta-blockers have become, along with ACE inhibitors, diuretics and agiotensin II receptor blockers, an established, evidence-based, recommended treatment concept in chronic heart failure. The increased activation of the adrenergic system and renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system in heart failure syndrome provides the rationale for the use of beta-blockers in patients with heart failure influencing upon the most important pathological changes in the condition. Long term treatment with beta blockers additive to an ACE inhibitor and diuretic results in normalization of left ventricular function and EF. The long term treatment of heart failure using beta blockers reduces morbidity and mortality from this condition.

[Model of integrated management of hypertension--population approach]. / Model integriranog menadzmenta hipertenzije--populacioni pristup.

Actual transitional moment in Bosnia and Herzegovina has the significant health implication. Several population surveys conducted in the past 10 years period showed the rather high prevalence of main cardiovascular risk factors, including hypertension. It was proof that cardiovascular risk factors are preventable. Hence, development and establishment of a model of integrated management of hypertension in actual moment in BIH is necessities due to relatively high level of prevalence of hypertension and limited financial resources in health sector. This paper shows a possible model a model of integrated management of hypertension at population level with active participation of actors from three managerial levels--strategic, tactical and operational.

[Similarity and difference between American (JNC 7) and European (2003 ESH/ESC) guidelines for management of hypertension]. / Slicnosti i razlike izmedu novih amerixkih i evropskih smjernica za lijecenje hipertenzije (JNC 7 i 2003 ESH/ESC).

The American guidelines for management of hypertension (JNC 7) and the European guidelines (2003 ESH/ESC) communicate some new moments and attitudes in the treatment of the condition. According to JNC 7, in patients belonging to the prehypertension category (systolic bp 120-139, diastolic bp 80-89), life style modifications are prescribed. The second and third degrees of hypertension have been merged (degree 2). The drugs of choice for majority of the patients, according to INC 7, are thiazide diuretics, alone or in combination with other drugs. The European guidelines have, more or less, preserved the old classification of hypertension. According to the European guidelines, the assessment of global cardiovascular risk is one of the more important factors in making the decision when to begin the therapy of hypertension. In line with the European guidelines, it is not so important which drug will be applied at the beginning of therapy because, in time, most of the patients will be receiving two or three drugs.

[Modern approach to treatment in pulmonary thromboembolism]. / Suvremeni pristup terapiji plucnog tromboembolizma.

Pulmonary embolism (PE) and deep vein thrombosis (DVT), respectively venous thromboembolism (VIE), are relatively frequent diseases. Appropriate management of PE includes risk stratification, preventive and primary therapy. Appearance of the disease ranges from mild to severe, and rapid and accurate risk stratification is extremely important. So appropriate management can range from prevention of recurent PE with anticoagulant therapy alone in low risk patients, to clot disolution or embolectomy in high risk patients. Preventive therapy prevents recurent VTE including anticoagulant therapy with heparin (low molecular weight heparin-LWM or unfr actional UFH), direct thrombin inhibitors (DTI) or oral anticoagulants. Primary therapy includes thrombolitic therapy or embolectomy (catheter or surgical). Prevention DVT and VTE includes mechanical and pharmacological measures in internal medicine, in general, cancer and orthopedics surgery.

[Role of angiotensin II antagonists in the treatment of hypertension]. / Mjesto i uloga antagonista angiotenzina II u lijecenju hipertenzije.

Recently, both researchers and clinicians have focused their attention to the blockade of the renin-angiotensin system (RAS). Their efforts resulted in discovery of ACE inhibitors. ACE inhibitors proved to be effective antihypertensive drugs. However, their excellent antihypertensive efficacy has been limited by frequent occurrence of adverse effects, among which cough occupies a prominent place. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists could completely block RAS, having significantly less adverse effects than ACE inhibitors. Clinical studies have demonstrated that angiotensin II receptor antagonists are equally effective in the treatment of hypertension as diuretics, beta blockers, calcium antagonists and ACE inhibitors. Also the studies showed angiotensin II receptor antagonists to have an additional advantage, i.e. the frequency of their adverse effects matches that of placebo. All today available angiotensin II receptor antagonists--losartan, valsartan, irbesartan, candesartan, eprosartan, and telmisartan--equally lower both systolic and diastolic pressure. This new class of drugs can be used as monotherapy or can be combined with other antihypertensive drugs, especially with diuretics. Trials now underway will demonstrate whether angiotensin II receptor antagonists can prevent target-organ damage and reduce cardiovascular morbidity and mortality.