Features of The Dynamics of Profibrotic Markers and Regression of Left Ventricular Hypertrophy After Renal Denervation in Patients With Resistant Hypertension and Stenosing Atherosclerosis of the Coronary Arteries.

AIM: To compare the changes in serum concentrations of matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) and their tissue inhibitor (TIMP) to the dynamics of blood pressure (BP) and parameters of left ventricular hypertrophy (LVH) 6 months after renal denervation (RD) in patients with resistant arterial hypertension (RAH) and complicated coronary atherosclerosis. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In 22 RAH patients with complicated coronary atherosclerosis (revascularization and/or history of myocardial infarction (MI)), 24-hour BP monitoring, echocardiography, and measurement of blood MMPs and TIMP were performed at baseline and six months after RD. The comparison group consisted of 48 RAH patients without a history of coronary revascularization or MI. RESULTS: In 6 months after RD, BP was decreased comparably in both groups. In the group of complicated atherosclerosis, there were no significant changes in profibrotic markers or LVH parameters. Thus, at baseline and after 6 months, the values of the studied indicators were the following: left ventricular myocardial mass (LVMM) 233.1±48.1 and 243.0±52.0 g, LVMM index 60.6±14.5 and 62.8±10 .9 g/m2.7, proMMP-1 4.9 [2.1; 7.7] and 3.6 [2.0; 9.4]  ng/ml, MMP-2 290.4 [233.1; 352.5] and 352.2 [277.4; 402.9] ng/ml, MMP-9 220.6 [126.9; 476.7] and 263.5 [82.9; 726.2] ng/ml, TIMP-1 395.7 [124.7; 591.4] and 424.2 [118.2; 572.0] ng/ml, respectively. In the comparison group, on the contrary, there was a significant decrease in LVMM from 273.6±83.3 g to 254.1±70.4 g, LVMM index from 67.1±12.3 to 64.0±14.4 g/m2.7, proMMP-1 from 7.2 [3.6; 11.7] to 5.9 [3.5; 10.9] ng/ml, MMP-2 from 328.9 [257.1; 378.1] to 272.8 [230.2; 343.2] ng/ml, MMP-9 from 277.9 [137.0; 524.0] to 85.5 [34.2; 225.9] ng/ml, and the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio from 0.80 [0.31; 1.30] to 0.24 [0.07; 0.76]. The BP dynamics in this group was inversely correlated with MMP-2 at 6 months (r=-0.38), and the MMP-9/TIMP-1 ratio was correlated with LVMM and the LVMM index at baseline (r=0.39 and r=0.39) and at 6 months (r=0.37 and r=0.32). The change in TIMP-1 from 543.9 [277.5; 674.1] to 469.8 [289.7; 643.6] ng/ml was not significant (p=0.060). CONCLUSION: In RAH patients with complicated coronary atherosclerosis, the dynamics of profibrotic biomarkers and LVH parameters after RD was absent despite the pronounced antihypertensive effect, probably due to the low reversibility of cardiovascular remodeling processes or more complex regulatory mechanisms of the MMP system.

Renal hemodynamics in patients with resistant hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Aim    To study renal hemodynamics in patients with resistant arterial hypertension (RAH) in combination with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM2) and to identify factors involved in the increase in intrarenal vascular resistance.Material and methods    This study included 59 patients (25 men) with RAH in combination with DM2. Mean age of patients was 60.3±7.9 years; 24-h blood pressure (24-BP) (systolic, diastolic, SBP/DBP) was 158.0±16.3 / 82.5±12.7 mm Hg during the treatment with 4.3 [4.0;5.0] antihypertensive drugs; glycated hemoglobin (HbA1c) was 7.5±1.5 %; estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was 73.1±21.8 ml/min / 1.73 m2 (CKD-EPI equation). Measurement of office BP, 24-h BP monitoring, renal artery (RA) Doppler, routine lab tests including determination of GFR (CKD-EPI), 24-h urine albumin excretion, and ELISA measurement of blood lipocalin-2, cystatin C, high-sensitive C-reactive protein (hsCRP), and asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) were performed for all patients.Results    Incidence of increased RA resistive index (RI) was 39% despite the high rate of vasodilator treatment (93% for renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system inhibitors, 78% for calcium antagonists). According to a correlation and regression analysis, RA RI values were correlated with the kidney function (r=-0.46, p<0.001 for eGFR, r=0.56; p=0.006 for lipocalin-2), age (r=0.54, p<0.001), increases in concentrations of hsCRP (r=0.35, p<0.001) and ADMA (r=0.39, p=0.028), the increase in vascular stiffness (r=0.59, p<0.001 for pulse BP (PBP) as well as DM2 duration, and HbA1c (r=0.33, p<0.001 for both). The independent association of RA RI with the age, PBP, and duration of DM2 was confirmed by the results of multivariate regression analysis. According to the ROC analysis, the threshold level of RA RI corresponding to a decrease in GFR <60 ml / min / 1.73 m2 was ≥0.693 conv. units.Conclusion    In more than one third of patients with RAH in combination with DM2, increased renal vascular resistance was documented, which was closely associated with impaired kidney function, age, DM2 duration and severity, and markers of low-grade inflammation, endothelial dysfunction, and vascular stiffness. The value of RA RI ≥0.693 conv. units was a threshold for the development of chronic kidney disease (CKD).

[Five-year dynamics adrenergic reactivity of erythrocytes after radio-frequency sympathic denervation of renal arteries in patients with resistant arterial hypertension].

AIM: To study the initial state of adrenergic reactivity and the five-year dynamics of the beta-adrenergic reactivity index of erythrocyte membranes and the manifestation of the antihypertensive effect of the procedure for radiofrequency destruction of sympathetic structures of the renal artery in patients with resistant arterial hypertension. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The analysis included 42 patients with resistant arterial hypertension (RH). The renal denervation (RD) procedure of the kidneys was performed by endovascular bilateral transcatheter radiofrequency ablation of the renal arteries. The study of 24-hour blood pressure monitoring (BPM) and the determination of ß-adrenoreactivity of erythrocytes (ß-ARM) by changes in the osmoresistance of erythrocyte membranes were performed initially, 1 week, 6 months, 1, 2, 3 and 5 years after RD. Patients retrospectively, at a follow-up period of 6 months after RD, were divided into responders (decrease in blood pressure by 10 or more mm Hg) and non-responders (decrease in blood pressure less than 10 mm Hg). RESULTS: 6 months after the RD, the number of responders was 28 people (66.7%), after 5 years - 31 people (73.8%). At the time of inclusion in the study, the median ß-ARM in the group of non-responders was not significantly higher than in the group of responders. After 6 months after the RD procedure, the ß-ARM indicator in the non-responder group was significantly lower than in the responder group (p = 0.043). With further follow-up in the group of responders, an increase in the median ß-ARM was noted, which reached significant differences relative to the baseline values in the group at follow-up periods of 1 year (p = 0.036) and 5 years (p = 0.004) after RD. The change in the ß-ARM indicator in the non-responder group was wavy in nature, the changes did not reach the significance criteria. CONCLUSION: Renal denervation in 73.8% of cases is accompanied by a stable antihypertensive response for 5 years of observation and an increase in ß-ARM, which may indicate the implementation of compensatory mechanisms in conditions of increasing activity of the sympathoadrenal system in response to a decrease in blood pressure.

[A case of clinically malignant rapid-progressive cardiac myxoma after COVID-19 infection].

This article presents a clinical case of urgent, life-saving surgical intervention in a 69-year-old woman with left atrial myxoma with rapid morphological and clinical progression and a history of COVID-19 and breast cancer in remission. However, the concurrent (perhaps secondary) thrombophilic condition facilitated the complication development in the form of superior vena caval orifice thrombosis in the early postoperative period. For this complication, repeated surgery in the volume of thrombectomy was performed, which resulted in stabilization of the patient's condition.

Diastolic Dysfunction and Heart Failure With Preserved Ejection Fraction In Patients With Resistant Hypertension and Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus.

Aim      To study the incidence and clinical and pathophysiological features of diastolic dysfunction (DD) and chronic heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF) in patients with resistant arterial hypertension (RAH) associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM).Material and methods  A cross-sectional study that included 36 patients with RAH associated with type 2 DM (mean age, 61.4±6.4 years; 14 men) was performed. Measurement of office and 24-h blood pressure (BP), standard echocardiography with assessment of diastolic function (DF) and ventricular-arterial coupling, doppler ultrasound imaging of renal blood flow, and laboratory tests (blood glucose, glycated hemoglobin, blood creatinine, tumor necrosis factor α (TNF-α), brain natriuretic peptide (BNP), type 2 and type 9 matrix metalloproteinases (MMP-2 and MMP-9), tissue inhibitor of MMP 1 (TIMP-1), 24-h urine protein test, and 24-h urine volume test were performed for all patients. HFpEF was diagnosed according to criteria of the American Society of Echocardiography and the European Society of Cardiology 2019, and the Russian Clinical Guidelines on Diagnosis and Treatment of CHF 2017 and 2020.Results All patients had DD. Incidence of HFpEF detection according to the Russian Guidelines 2017 was 100%; according to the Russian Guidelines 2020, that included a required increase in BNP, and according to the criteria of the European Guidelines 2019, this incidence was 89 %. In 55.6 % of patients, DD corresponded to grade 2 (pseudonormal type). According to the correlation analysis, the DF impairment was associated with increases in pulse BP, myocardial mass, arterial and left ventricular elastance (arterial wall and left ventricular elasticity), basal glycemia and DM duration, MMP-2 level, proteinuria, blood creatinine, renal vascular resistance, and also with decreases in 24-h urine volume, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-1/MMP-2. Significance of the relations of mean E / e' ratio with nighttime pulse BP, MMP-9, and 24-h urine volume were confirmed by results of multiple linear regression analysis. Increased myocardial and vascular wall stiffness, concentrations of MMP-2 and TNF-α and reduced 24-h urine volume were associated with progressive impairment of DF.Conclusion      The combination of RAH and DM-2 is characterized by an extremely high incidence of DD that determines a great prevalence of HFpEF. The development and progression of DD in such patients are closely related with a complex of metabolic, proinflammatory and profibrotic biomarkers, increased vascular wall stiffness, pronounced left ventricular hypertrophy, and with structural and functional alterations in kidneys.

Refractory and Resistant Hypertension in Patients with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus: Different Response to Renal Denervation.

Aim      To compare the antihypertensive effectivity of renal denervation in patients with diabetes mellitus (DM) and associated refractory arterial hypertension (rfAH) (treated with 5 or more classes of antihypertensive drugs, including a thiazide diuretic and a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist) and uncontrolled resistant AH (ucAH) (treated with 3-4 drugs).Material and methods  This interventional study with renal denervation included 18 DM patients with rfAH and 40 DM patients with ucAH; 16 and 36 of them, respectively, completed the study in 6 months. At baseline, patients were sex- and age-matched. Study methods included measurement of office blood pressure (BP; systolic/diastolic BP, SBP/DBP); outpatient BP monitoring; evaluation of kidney function (estimated glomerular filtration rate by the CKD-EPI formula); diurnal diuresis volume; diurnal urinary excretion of albumin, potassium and sodium; diurnal excretion of metanephrines and normetanephrines; and plasma levels of glucose and glycated hemoglobin, aldosterone, and active renin. Patients were instructed about maintaining compliance with their antihypertensive and hypoglycemic therapy throughout the study.Results At baseline, patients of both groups were comparable by BP and major clinical indexes, except for higher values of nocturnal SBP variability (p<0.05) in patients with rfAH. At 6 months following renal denervation, both groups displayed significant decreases in office and average daily SBP and also in the "load" with increased mean diurnal SBP. However, the decrease in average daily SBP was almost 4 times greater in the rfAH group than in the ucAH group ( -19.9 and -5.1 mm Hg, respectively, р=0.02). Moreover, 81 % of patients in the rfAH group responded to the intervention (average daily SBP decrease ≥10 mm Hg) while the number of responders in the ucAH group was considerably smaller (42 %; p=0.02). In patients with rfAH, renal denervation was associated with a significant decrease in pulse BP and nocturnal SBP variability and with the increase in diurnal diuresis. No other alterations were noted in laboratory test results in either group.Conclusion      DM patients with rfAH may be the best candidates for the procedure of renal denervation.

Erythrocyte membranes beta-adrenoreactivity changes after renal denervation in patients with resistant hypertension, relationship with antihypertensive and cardioprotective intervention efficacy.

Aim      To study the functional condition of sympathoadrenal system as evaluated by beta-adrenoreactivity of erythrocyte membranes (beta-ARM) during two years following renal denervation (RD) in patients with resistant arterial hypertension (RAH) and to determine the relationship of this index with long-term antihypertensive and cardioprotective effectivity of this invasive treatment.Material and methods  The study included 48 patients (mean age, 57.2±8.7 years, 18 men) with RAH on a stable antihypertensive therapy. Averaged daily systolic and diastolic blood pressure (SBP and DBP) and levels of beta-ARM were determined at baseline and in 7 days and 2 years following RD. Measurement of beta-ARM was based on beta-adrenoblocker inhibition of erythrocyte hemolysis induced by exposure to hypo-osmotic environment. The beta-adrenoblocker binds to erythrocyte membrane beta-adrenoceptors to prevent the erythrocyte destruction. Increased values of beta-ARM reflect a decrease in the number of functionally active erythrocyte membrane beta-adrenoceptors associated with long-term sympathetic hyperactivity.Results For two years of follow-up, values of average daily BP decreased from 160.4±16.0 / 88.1±14.6 to 145.3±19.3 / 79.4±13.6 mm Hg. At 7 days, the number of beta-ARM had decreased in the group of RD responders (р=0.028) who at two years had decreased their BP by 10 mm Hg or more, while in the group of non-responders, the number of beta-ARM remained unchanged. At one week, beta-ARM values correlated with changes in SBP and DBP (r= -0.54; р<0.05) and with left ventricular myocardial mass (LVMM) (r= -0.36; р<0.05) at two years of follow-up whereas beta-ARM delta at one week was interrelated with the renin concentration in the long-term (r= -0.44; р<0.05). At two years, the content of beta-ARM was increased in both groups.Conclusion      The decrease in beta-ARM content at 7 days after RD shows the procedure efficacy and allows an expectation of clinically significant decreases in BP and LVMM in the long-term after the surgical treatment. At two years after the intervention, the content of beta-ARM increased, and the BP decrease was apparently due to some other mechanisms.

[Refractory and resistant hypertension in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus: differences in metabolic profile and endothelial function].

AIM: To determine the prevalence of refractory hypertension (RfH) in patients with and without type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM), as well as to evaluate whether diabetic patients with RfH significant differ from those with uncontrolled resistant hypertension (RH) in clinical phenotype, metabolic profile and endothelial function. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The study included 193 patients with RH: RH 74 patients with diabetes and 119 patients without DM. Uncontrolled RH and RfH were defined by the presence of uncontrolled blood pressure BP (140 and/or 90 mm Hg) despite the use of 3 but 5 antihypertensive drugs (for RH) and 5 antihypertensive drugs, including a mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist (for RfH). Clinical examination, lab tests were performed. Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) and vasoreactivity of middle cerebral artery (MCA) using both breath-holding and hyperventilation test were measured by high-resolution ultrasound. RESULTS: The prevalence of refractory hypertension in patients with and without DM was similar (30% vs 28%, respectively). No differences in BP levels, data of echocardiography and clinical phenotype were found between the diabetic groups, but value of HOMA index, plasma resistin level and postprandial glycaemia were higher in patients with RfH. FMD and MCA reactivity to the breath-holding test were worse in patients with RfH, and they had a more pronounced vasoconstrictor response of MCA to the hyperventilation test compared to patients with RH. CONCLUSION: The prevalence of RfH is the same in patients with and without diabetes. Diabetic patients with refractory hypertension have a more unfavorable metabolic profile and greater impairment of endothelial function than patients with uncontrolled resistant hypertension.

[Possibility of evaluating the effectiveness of renal artery sympathetic denervation in resistant hypertension early after radiofrequency ablation]. / Vozmozhnost' otsenki effektivnosti simpaticheskoi denervatsii pochechnykh arterii pri rezistentnoi arterial'noi gipertonii v rannie sroki posle provedeniya radiochastotnoi ablyatsii.

AIM: to investigate time course of changes in the adrenoreactivity (AR) of erythrocyte membranes (EM) after radiofrequency ablation of the synaptic nerves of the renal arteries (RA) in patients with resistant hypertension (RH) and to assess whether this indicator can be used for the early evaluation of the efficiency of an invasive intervention into the RA. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: 24 patients with RH, who received full-dose antihypertensive therapy with at least three drugs, including a diuretic, were examined. Renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) was carried out by endovascular radiofrequency ablation (RFA) of the RA. 24-hour blood pressure (BP) monitoring and determination of the ß-adrenoreactivity (ß-AR) of EM were performed, by taking into account the change in erythrocyte osmoresistence at baseline and 1 and 24 weeks after RFA. The therapy was not changed during the observation. RESULTS: The patients included in the study were divided into 2 groups. One week following RSD, 15 patients of Group 1 were noted to have a decrease in the ß-AR of EM by 10 conditional units or more; average daily systolic BP (SBP) and diastolic BP (DBP) reduced by 8.3 and 2.8 mm Hg, respectively. In 9 patients of Group 2, the ß-AR of EM was unchanged in this observation period or increased compared with baseline. In this group, the decrease in average daily SBP and DBP was noted to be less pronounced than that in Group 1 (by 1.4 and 1.5 mm Hg, respectively). At 24 weeks after RSD, Group 1 was seen to have an effective daily decrease in average daily SBP and DBP by 25.6 and 14.3 mm Hg, respectively (p=0.01 and 0.05). The average value of the ß-AR of EM significantly declined compared with baseline. In Group 2, no statistically significant changes were reported; SPB and DBP lowered by 7.0 and 3.0 mm Hg, respectively. There was a significant decrease in the ß-AR of EM compared with that at week 1. CONCLUSION: The decline in the ß-AR of EM within the first week after RFA is suggestive of the decreased activity of the sympathoadrenal system and may be used as an early efficiency index of RSD after the procedure.

[Criteria for selecting patients with resistant hypertension for a renal sympathetic denervation]. / Kriterii otbora bol'nykh s rezistentnoi arterial'noi gipertoniei dlya simpaticheskoi denervatsiya pochek.

AIM: to define and develop a procedure that can select patients with resistant hypertension (RH) for a renal sympathetic denervation (RSD) procedure, by being orienting to the specific initial values of ß-adrenoreactivity (ß-AR) and systolic blood pressure (SBP). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The analysis included 23 RH patients receiving the maximally tolerable doses of 4 antihypertensive drugs. The investigations involving BP control and a Russian spectrophotometric procedure for determining ß-AR in terms of the change in the osmoresistance of erythrocyte membranes (EM) were performed at baseline and 4 and 24 weeks. RSD was carried out using endovascular radiofrequency ablation of the renal arteries. The therapy was not changed during the observation. RESULTS: If SBP was >170 mm Hg and ß-AR of EM >40 conditional units (CUs) at baseline, ΔSBP was 17.68±3.24 mm Hg and the efficiency of RSD was 100%. When SBP was <170 mm Hg and ß-AR of EM <40 CUs at baseline, ΔSBP was 0.97±4.21 mm Hg (p>0.05) and the efficiency of RSD was low. CONCLUSION: The overall estimate of baseline SBP and ß-AR of EM in patients with RH could determine the expediency of the RSD procedure in order to lower BP. The proposed procedure can optimize the selection of patients and enhance the efficiency of RSD in the treatment of RH.

[Cerebrovascular reactivity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis concurrent with and without hypertension].

AIM: To compare cerebrovascular reactivity (CVR) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) concurrent with essential hypertension (Group 1) and in those with RA and normal blood pressure (BP) (Group 2). SUBJECTS AND METHODS: During the study of Groups 1 (n = 37) and 2 (n = 12), the investigators estimated the prevalence of traditional cardiovascular risk factors, performed 24-hour BP monitoring, investigated CVR by transcranial Doppler (TCD) of the middle cerebral arteries (MCA) by hyperoxic and hypercapnic tests, and endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDV) and endothelium-independent vasodilation of the brachial artery. The groups were matched for gender, age, RA activity and stage, and antirheumatic therapy volume. RESULTS: According to the results of MCA TCD, the hyperoxic test recorded impaired CVR in 34 (92%) and 10 (83%) patients in Group 1 and 2, respectively; the hypercapnic test revealed this condition in 19 (51%) and 6 (50%) patients in these groups, respectively. The hyperoxic test most commonly showed an insufficient decrease in MCA linear blood flow velocities (LBFV) in 31 (84%) and 8 (66%) patients in Groups 1 and 2, respectively; the hypercapnic test did an excessive increase in MCA LBFV in 12 (32%) and 4 (33%) patients, respectively. There was a high rate of impaired EDV in 32 (86%) and 9 (75%) patients in Groups 1 and 2, respectively. CONCLUSION: According to the results of MCA TCD, there were high and similar rates of impaired CVR in patients with RA concurrent with and without essential hypertension during the hyperoxic and hypercapnic tests.

[Noninvasive assessment of functional competence of the radial artery as a possible vascular graft for coronary artery bypass grafting].

Described herein is a variant of surgical treatment of a patient presenting with type A aortic dissection extending to the brachiocephalic branches accompanied by thrombosis of the false channel of the latter. In the rare cases in dissection and thrombosis of the brachiocephalic branches for adequate protection of the body (systemic protection) it is necessary to use bidirectional arterial perfusion under the conditions of moderate hyperthermia: through a preliminarily sewn into the carotid artery prosthesis - perfusion of the brain, through cannulated aortic arch or femoral artery - body perfusion.

[Consistence of the radial artery as a conduit used in aortocoronary bypass surgery, a possibility of preventing shunt spasm].

AIM: To develop a new procedure to evaluate the functional consistence of the radial artery (RA) as a conduit used in aortocoronary bypass surgery (ACBS), to verify the prognostic value of the changed diameter of RA, and to prevent its spasm. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: The study enrolled 34 patients aged 59.4 +/- 8.6 years with coronary artery stenoses, who underwent ACBS using a RA conduit. While preparing them for surgery, endothelium-dependent vasodilation (EDVD) of RA, i.e. the magnitude of a change in its diameter (deltaD) was assessed; RA tone and nitric oxide (NO) concentrations were estimated during surgery; RA EDVD was re-estimated in 12 lercanidipine-treated patients with deltaD < 8%. RESULTS: The patients were primarily divided into 2 groups: 1) deltaD > or = 8% (RA spasm intra- and postoperatively); 2) EDVD deltaD < 8% (RA spasm). Significant differences between Groups 1 and 2 were intraoperatively recorded in vascular wall tone (U = 1.0; Z = -2.3; p = 0.02) and NO concentrations (p = 0.0); a relationship was found between these parameters. After lercanidipine treatment, the degree of deltaD = 4.36 +/- 1.89% increased to 11.32 +/- 2.22% (p = 0.0) and RA tone dropped from -1.68 to -3.9 mm in Group 2a with the baseline decreased vasodilating activity of RA. CONCLUSION: Ultrasound assessment of the vasodilating activity of RA provides adequate evidence about its arterial wall tone during surgery. deltaD < 8% is prognostically unfavorable and serves as a contraindication to the use of RA as a conduit during ACBS. The administration of lercanidipine allows effective correction of the dilatory capacities of an arterial conduit.

[Correlation between indices of 24-h monitoring of blood pressure and disturbed venous cerebral outflow in hypertensive patients].

AIM: To study relations between disturbances of cerebral venous circulation and parameters of 24-h blood pressure monitoring in hypertensive patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A total of 72 patients aged 28 to 60 years with essential hypertension of stage II have undergone 24-h blood pressure monitoring and MR-venography of the brachiocephalic veins on a low-field MR-tomograph using 2D TOF angiography. RESULTS: Symptoms of disturbed cerebral venous circulation were found in 60% patients. Major venous collectors were asymmetric in 79.2% patients, 40.3% had marked asymmetry, 14% had severe asymmetry. Disturbances of venous outflow significantly more frequently occurred in non-dippers and night-peakers as well as in high variability of blood pressure. Patients with marked asymmetry of venous collectors had elevated nocturnal systolic and diastolic blood pressure, high load indices of nocturnal systolic and diastolic pressure, a low degree of nocturnal fall of blood pressure. CONCLUSION: Disturbance of venous cerebral outflow in hypertensive patients is closely related with alterations of a circadian profile of blood pressure: circadian index of blood pressure, variability of blood pressure.

[Indapamide retard and enalapril in patients with arterial hypertension: hypotensive effectiveness and effect on endothelial function].

AIM: To find out what type of therapy was better for restoration of 24 hour blood pressure (BP) rhythm and impaired function of vascular endothelium, and to determine preferential therapy for patients with severe endothelial dysfunction. METHODS: We performed ambulatory blood pressure monitoring and assessments of endothelial dependent (flow mediated-FM) and endothelial independent (nitroglycerine) dilatation of forearm artery (DFA) in patients with stage I-III essential hypertension. In a randomized comparative cross-over study 76 patients (mean age 49.2 +/- 6.2 years) received indapamide retard 1.5 mg and enalapril 20 mg for 24 weeks. RESULTS: Hypotensive effect of both drugs was identical (indapamide lowered systolic/diastolic BP by 13.6/12.0% and 12.9/9.9%, enalapril lowered BP by 14/14.6% and 13.2/12.9%). BP rhythm was better transformed by treatment with indapamide: nocturnal fall of mean BP increased on indapamide from 8.1 +/- 6.9% at baseline to 12.8 +/- 5.0% after treatment, p=0.007, and on enalapril from 11.8 +/- 7.9% at baseline to 10.4 +/- 6.2% after treatment, p=0.2. Indapamide and enalapril significantly augmented FM DFA (from 4.7 +/- 2.8% to 9.03 +/- 3.47%, p < 0.001, and from 4.6 +/- 2.2% to 10.9 +/- 3.5%, p < 0.001, respectively). All patients were divided into 2 groups: with baseline FM DFA - 2.5% (group I, n=59) and < 2.5% (group II, n=16). In group II indapamide lowered BP more effectively than enalapril ( - 10.2/ - 9.1% and - 5.5/ - 5.2%, p < 0,01/0.01, respectively). CONCLUSION: Both indapamide retard 1.5 mg and enalapril 20 mg exerted normalizing action on endothelium dependent DFA. However indapamide transformed 24 hour BP profile better than enalapril. Hypotensive therapy with indapamide was more effective than therapy with enalapril in patients with more pronouncedly disturbed FM arterial vasodilatation. This can be used in selection of a preparation in patients with impaired FM vasodilatation.

[Hypotensive activity and cerebroprotective properties of carvedilol in patients with arterial hypertension associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus].

Aim of the study was to elucidate peculiarities of influence of carvedilol on 24-hour blood pressure (BP) profiles and changes of parameters of cerebral perfusion in patients with arterial hypertension (AH) associated with type 2 diabetes mellitus. Investigations were performed in 30 patients with I-III degree AH associated with type 2 diabetes of compensation and subcompensation stages. At baseline and after 24 weeks of treatment with carvedilol we carried out 24-hour BP monitoring, single photon emission computer tomography of the brain, and assessed the state of carbohydrate and lipid metabolism. According to data of 24-hour BP monitoring marked lowering of BP parameters occurred under the influence of therapy. This was accompanied with 26% decrease of the number of hypoperfused sectors of the brain (chi2=6.04, =0.014). During adenosine test number of hypoperfused sectors decreased from 136 to 117 (chi2=2,10, =0,147) what evidenced for a tendency to improvement of reactivity of cerebral vessels in response to vasodilating influences. The preparation exerted favorable effect on metabolic parameters and lowering of level of postprandial glycemia in dynamics of treatment was statistically significant.

[Structural-functional manifestations of cerebrovascular pathology in patients with essential hypertension].

AIM: To study functional activity of the brain in hypertensive patients by computer EEG and topographic mapping versus MR-tomography of the brain. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Computed EEG and MR-tomography (MRT) of the brain were made in 162 patients (age 28-56, mean age 43 +/- 2.4 years) with essential hypertension (EH) stage II. RESULTS: Four types of maps reflecting stages of forming defects of electric activity of the brain in patients with hypertension without neurological deficiency were identified. There is evidence about correlation between spectral rhythm power of EEG and severity of structural changes of the brain in hypertensive patients. CONCLUSION: Progression of vascular hypertensive encephalopathy by MRT in hypertensive patients is accompanied with changes in EEG rhythm power: alpha-rhythm index reduction, leveling of its interhemispheric differences, a rise of the low activity index in all the cerebral regions. The latter and alpha-rhythm index reduction may be regarded as markers of cerebral structural changes, primarily, disordered liquorodynamics and periventricular leukoaraiosis in relevant brain regions.

[Correlation between the parameters of 24-hour monitoring of arterial pressure and changes in arterial wall structure based on the results of a prospective trial].

AIM: To evaluate prognostic value of 24-h monitoring of blood pressure (BPM-24) for assessment of structural changes in arterial walls in patients with essential hypertension living in West Siberia. MATERIAL AND METHODS: In the course of 5-year prospective study we made two extended clinical and device examinations with use of BPM-24 and ultrasonic measurements of arterial intima-media complex (IMC) in 160 patients (mean age 48.97+/-8.18 years). RESULTS: An independent significant correlation was found between initial drop of the circadian index (CI) of blood pressure, systolic blood pressure (SBP)/diastolic blood pressure (DBP) at night (r = 0.24/0.22, p = 0.012/0.024) and thickness of IMC in 5 years (r = -0.28/-0.30, p = 0.004/ 0.002). The risk of increased thickness of arterial wall in the group with abnormal CI was 1:4. There was no relationships between IMC increase and baseline office blood pressure (r = 0. 18/0.12, p = 0. 057/0.188). In evaluation of office BP effects on progression of arterial atherosclerosis insignificant correlation coefficients for SBP/DBP were obtained (r = 0. 18/0.18, p = 0. 150/0.149) contrary to BPM-24 parameters: mean circadian SBP (r = 0.22, p = 0.046) and heart rate (r = 0.23, p = 0.038), SBP temporal index for 24 hours (r = 0.24, p = 0.035). CONCLUSION: . BPM-24 parameters are more significant predictors of structural changes in arterial wall than standard office blood pressure. This allows calculations of possible risk of such changes.

[Recognition of actual periods of nocturnal rest from 24-hour heart rate profile].

UNLABELLED: Inability to delineate exactly periods of nocturnal sleep and diurnal wakefulness during 24-hour blood pressure (BP) monitoring causes reporting of erroneous BP values for these periods. We suggested a simple mathematical algorithm for detection of periods of nocturnal rest determined as period of low values of cardiac rhythm using data of BP monitoring itself. AIM: To compare novel method of recognition of periods of sleep with 2 standard techniques: use of fixed time interval between 23 and 7 hours (1), or period of sleep according to patient's diaries (2). Reproducibility of nocturnal BP lowering between two 24-hour intervals during 48-hour blood pressure monitoring was used as a measure of precision of determination of diurnal/nocturnal BP. METHODS: Ambulatory 48-hour BP monitoring was carried out in 33 patients with uncomplicated stage II hypertensive disease. Automatic analysis of BP monitoring data was performed with the use of specially designed computer application. Standard deviation (SD) of differences (SDD) between pairs of nocturnal BP lowering during 48 hours was used as a measure of reproducibility. RESULTS: Reproducibility of values obtained with novel algorithm (SDD for systolic/diastolic BP 6.7/8.2 mm Hg) was substantially better than those obtained with standard methods (1) and (2) (SDD 13.0/14.8 and 13.5/18.3 mm Hg, respectively). CONCLUSION: The proposed method of recognition of the period of nocturnal rest substantially improved precision of automatic analysis of 24-hour BP monitoring.

[Function of the brain venous system and a 24-h profile of arterial pressure in hypertensive patients].

AIM: To study blood flow along the internal jugular veins (IJV) in the initial state and under the action of nitroglycerin in patients with essential arterial hypertension (EAH) with reference to characteristics of a 24-h profile of blood pressure. MATERIAL AND METHODS: A 24-h monitoring of blood pressure (MBP), duplex scanning of IJV, venous IJV outflow were studied in 26 patients with EAH stage 2 (mean age 39 +/- 5.0) before and after sublingual intake of nitroglycerin (0.5 mg). RESULTS: By 24-h MBP findings, two groups of patients were identified: with unaffected blood pressure profile (group 1) and affected profile (group 2). Nitroglycerin produced a unidirectional reaction of IJV (increased outflow) in group 1 and multidirectional changes of venous outflow along the IJV in patients of group 2. CONCLUSION: Nitroglycerin test showed different venous cerebral hemodynamics in EAH patients with different variants of 24-h MBP.