Ambulatory blood pressure monitoring on admission in survivors of recent stroke entering inpatient rehabilitation.

Arterial hypertension (AHT) is a major risk factor for stroke, yet blood pressure (BP) goals thereafter remain uncertain. Although additional prognostic value of 24-hour ambulant BP monitoring (ABPM) is acknowledged, its clinical impacts remain limited. We suspected that routine ABPM could identify characteristic circadian BP patterns in different brain lesion types, the knowledge of which might, in turn, be helpful in improving overall BP management in patients after stroke. In our study, we compared cardiovascular parameters derived from ABPM and traditional blood pressure measurements (TBPM) among 105 stroke survivors who entered our inpatient neuro-rehabilitation program. The mean age of mostly male (64.8%) patients was 71 ± 12 years. Ischemic strokes were predominant (75.2%). Despite normotensive systolic BP means in TBPM (133.5 ± 18.2 mmHg) and ABPM (24 h: 122.8 ± 14.7 mmHg), AHT persisted in up to 67.6% of all patients, with ABPM uncovering nocturnal systolic non- or reversed dipping in 89.5% and 53.3%, respectively. The latter was predominant (85.7%) in the hemorrhagic subgroup which also displayed lower daytime SBP than the ischemic one (ABPM: 117.1 ± 11.8 vs 124.7 ± 14.7 mmHg, p = 0.033). Further differences were present among distinct brain lesion types. Sufficient dippers were younger (58 ± 12 vs 75 ± 11 years, p < 0.001), but adjusting for age yielded no independent correlations. In spite of normotensive daytime BP measurements, ABPM detects latent AHT and insufficient nocturnal BP dipping after the acute phase of stroke. Further studies are needed to elucidate the role of increased nocturnal BP in patients after stroke.

How to optimize lipoprotein apheresis treatment--a second look.

BACKGROUND: Lipoprotein apheresis (LA) is used in hypercholesterolemic patients suffering from cardiovascular disease (CHD) if a modified diet and lipid-lowering drug regimens had failed. During the first LA treatments LDL-cholesterol (LDL-C) and lipoprotein (a) (Lp(a)) can be decreased very effectively when using generally accepted formulas for calculating plasma (PV) (e.g. Pearson) or blood volumes (BV) as a basis for calculating treatment volume (e.g. Nadler). With respect to LDL-C and Lp(a) levels after LA treatment not all treated patients on steady state with apheresis treatment procedures may achieve the desired target concentrations for LDL-C (<70 mg/dl) and Lp(a) (<30 mg/dl). Are there further ways to increase the effectiveness of LA? METHODS: Over months or years of LA the treated volumes were stepwise increased in patients to achieve target cholesterol concentrations but not sufficiently in all cases. Therefore the patients' actual LA treatment volumes were compared to the calculated PV or BV. To possibly optimize the treatment capacity of LA procedures independent of calculated PV or BV the capacity threshold was determined in addition. During LA procedures every 20 min cholesterol, triglycerides, LDL-C, HDL-C and Lp(a) concentrations were determined and related to the hematocrit to exclude dilution effects. RESULTS: In patients undergoing regular LA treated volumes vs. calculated volumes were different: for PV 28 ± 18% (n = 7); for BV 28 ± 20% (n = 6). The mean treated volumes were 1.3 fold larger than the calculated volumes to achieve cholesterol target levels in most LA treatments. With respect to the capacity threshold we observed in only 1 of 13 patients an ineffective long treatment time. No LA procedure failed due to exhausted capacity. CONCLUSIONS: Lipoprotein apheresis treatment is a very effective treatment procedure in lowering LDL-C and Lp(a). However, not in all procedures the optimal treatment volume for LA patients may be calculated. However calculations of PV and BV are more or less error-prone. An increase of 1.3 fold in the calculated volumes may be the first step in optimizing individual LA treatment options. In addition, to exclude an exhaustion of LA procedures the determination of the individual capacity threshold in every LA patient may be further helpful to adjust treatment volumes. To substantiate our demand on changed treatment volumes further data are necessary.

Current view: indications for extracorporeal lipid apheresis treatment.

BACKGROUND: One of the first investigations concerning extracorporeal treatment of hypercholesterolemia was performed in 1967 by plasma exchange in patients with homozygous or severe heterozygous familial hypercholesterolemia (FH). In the following decades, several specific lipid apheresis systems were developed to efficiently eliminate low-density lipoprotein (LDL) cholesterol and Lp(a) cholesterol in hypercholesterolemic patients. In the early 1980s, the main clinical indication has been homozygous FH including mainly children and pregnant women. In consideration of the current development of lipid-lowering regimens and scientific knowledge of preventing progression of cardiovascular diseases, the spectrum of indications to initiate lipid apheresis was extended due to still insufficient lipid-lowering therapy in some clinical cases. However, a generally accepted indication for lipid apheresis treatment is still under discussion. In Germany, the target-oriented distribution of increasingly limited healthcare resources demand data which support the benefit of established treatment procedures such as lipid apheresis. In recent years, the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA), a paramount decision-making body of the German Healthcare System, issued to reassess the approval of chronic lipid apheresis therapy for regular reimbursement. Therefore, in 2005, an interdisciplinary German Apheresis Working Group has been established by members of both the German societies of nephrology. One of the first goals of this working group was a revision of the indications for lipid apheresis corresponding to current guidelines and recommendations for the treatment of lipid disorders. In addition, recently new pathophysiological perceptions of the impact of lipoproteins on atherogenesis and thrombosis were also considered. METHODS AND RESULTS: Since 2005, the working group met on a regular basis to substantiate the first defined goals. The indications for lipid apheresis were critically revised with respect to actual results from clinical investigations, cardiovascular guidelines, and scientific knowledge and were accepted by the members of the apheresis working group. CONCLUSIONS: There is consensus between the medical societies and health insurance funds regarding the need for general accepted guidelines for lipid apheresis. Recommendations for the indications of lipid apheresis were developed, but additionally these results should be confirmed by medical societies to transform them to guidelines. However, due to limited data showing that lipid apheresis has effects on the progression of cardiovascular diseases all members of the apheresis working group support a project for creating a lipid apheresis registry. This apheresis registry has been developed and recently started. The primary goal is to substantiate prospective long-term data on clinical outcome of chronic lipid apheresis treatment and to support additional clinical research activities in this field. In addition, this registry should comply with the actual requests of the Federal Joint Committee (G-BA).

An erythropoietin gene polymorphism in the hypoxia-responsive element at position 3434 is possibly associated with hypertension.

BACKGROUND/AIMS: Several polymorphisms of vasoactive hormones have been implicated in hypertension. Erythropoietin (EPO) interacts with vasoactive substances, such as angiotensin II. Previously detected single nucleotide polymorphisms in the hypoxia-responsive element of EPO might be associated with hypertension and hypertensive end organ damages. METHODS: 400 hypertensive patients and 200 age- and gender-matched normotensive controls were genotyped for an EPO polymorphism [cytosine (C)/thymine (T) single nucleotide polymorphism] at position 3434. Patients were grouped according to their genotype into the CC group (CC genotype) and the CT/TT group (CT and TT genotype). BP was measured by ambulatory BP monitoring. RESULTS: The CC genotype was present in 87% of hypertensive patients and in 78.5% of controls (p = 0.007). In addition, patients with the CC genotype had higher BP levels compared with CT/TT genotypes (BPsys 143.7 ± 20.4 vs. 136.1 ± 13.5 mm Hg, p = 0.01, and BPdias 85.8 ± 11.6 vs. 82.4 ± 8.9, p = 0.043) despite a nearly identical number of antihypertensive drugs (2.3 ± 1.5 vs. 2.3 ± 1.6; p = 0.257). 100% of the small number of patients with end-stage renal disease (n = 15) had the CC genotype. CONCLUSION: The CC genotype of the EPO gene at position 3434 is more frequently found in patients with hypertension and is associated with higher BP levels.

Blood pressure telemonitoring is useful to achieve blood pressure control in inadequately treated patients with arterial hypertension.

Failing to reach blood pressure (BP) goals is one of the main problems in hypertension management. Especially in high-risk patients, intensive monitoring including frequently office visits or new techniques to monitor home BP is required. A total of 60 patients with uncontrolled hypertension were included and randomized into a group with telemetric BP monitoring (TBPM) (n=30) and a control group receiving standard care (n=30). During the 3-month study period, patients received in addition to their antihypertensive pre-treatment up to 2 × 300 mg irbesartan to achieve the required target BP. All patients were instructed to measure their BP once daily in the morning. In the TBPM group automatic alerts were generated by the central database server using pre-defined algorithms and patients were subsequently contacted by the physician. At baseline mean 24-h ambulant BP monitoring (ABPM) was 143.3±11.1/82.6±9.9 mm Hg in the TBPM group and 141.4±12.6/82.1±6.5 mm Hg in the standard care group. During treatment mean systolic BP showed a more intensive decrease in the TBPM vs control group (-17.0±11.1 mm Hg vs -9.8±13.7 mm Hg; P=0.032). Patients in the TBPM group had a more pronounced night dipping and a higher reduction of mean pulse pressure than controls (-8.1±5.9 mm Hg vs -2.8±7.4 mm Hg, P=0.004). After 3 months, TBPM-treated patients were given a higher mean daily dose of irbesartan (375±187 mg vs 222±147 mg in controls; P=<0.001). We demonstrated that with TBPM a more effective and faster titration of the antihypertensive agent is possible. The alarm criteria chosen were useful to improve BP control.

[How to follow-up on the recommendations of the ESH/ESC guidelines for different kinds of blood pressure measurement methods]. / Umsetzung der ESH/ESC-Hypertonie-Richtlinien mithilfe verschiedener Blutdruckmessmethoden.

Better understanding of epidemiology and pathophysiology of arterial hypertension has resulted in new definitions of blood pressure levels and treatment targets. The main reason for worldwide modest outcomes in the treatment of hypertension is suboptimal drug treatment including incomplete dose titration and an inadequate antihypertensive drug combinations. New techniques such as teletransmission of home blood pressure measurement together with ambulant 24-hour-blood-pressure-monitoring could serve as a solution to provide the physician the opportunity for an adequate antihypertensive therapy, in order to improve drug compliance and to shorten the time until reaching optimal blood pressure.

[Body weight telemetry in patients with endstage renal failure on hemodialysis: preliminary data]. / Körpergewichts-Telemetrie bei Hämodialysepatienten--vorläufige Daten.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: Non-adherence to fluid intake restrictions is one of the leading problems in hemodialysis patients. The consequences of chronic volume overload and massive hypotensive episodes resulting from enhanced ultrafiltration lead to an increased mortality and incidence of vascular events. Telemetric body weight monitoring (TBWM) suggests itself as a successful way to reduce daily fluid intake PATIENTS AND METHODS: This monocentric, prospective, randomized open study includes 120 patients with end-stage renal failure undergoing chronic hemodialysis (for at least two months) three times a week. The mean interdialytic weight gain (IWG) was more than 1.5 kg/2 days over the four weeks immediately before start of the study. The effect of daily body weight telemonitoring on IWG, blood pressure, haemoglobin variability, hospital stay, vascular events and mortality were observed for three months. All monitored patients (group 1, n = 60) received a weekly report of their weight changes, the number of alarms (automatically sent by email to the study center when daily IWG was greater than 0.75 kg/d) and of the interventions by phone (conducted by the responsible nephrologist when IWG was > 2 kg/day). Hemodynamics (each hemodialysis procedure) and weekly laboratory data were recorded for all patients. RESULTS: Preliminary data of 44 patients showed a significant reduction of daily IWG (weekly average, p = 0.0187) and a smaller number of alarm reports after the whole study period in group 1. Blood pressure monitoring during hemodialysis showed less hyper- and hypotensive episodes in patients with an IWG of less than 1.5 kg/2 days. In the control group there have so far been no changes of the analysed parameters. CONCLUSIONS: TBWM seems to be an effective method for optimizing adherence to fluid intake restrictions in patients on hemodialysis. Hemoglobin variability, mortality rates and the number of vascular events will still have to be analysed in detail for all patients once the entire study period has been completed.

KIDSCARE: a network for children with special health care needs.

In December 1997, Arkansas Medicaid in cooperation with Title V and Children's Medical Services (CMS) implemented guidelines for the preauthorization of therapy services for Children with Special Health Care Needs (CSHCN). The University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences (UAMS) in partnership with Arkansas Medicaid (MCD), and Chidren's Medical Services (CMS) were given the charge of developing clinical practice guidelines for physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and speech/language therapy (SLP) for this population based on primary diagnosis and age appropriateness. This process involved the implementation of a statewide, internet-based, clinical information support network. The objective of this article is to describe KIDSCARE, a clinical information support network, currently under development, for the determination of medical necessity and allocation of therapy services for CSHCN.