Aim: to study cerebral blood flow and cholesterol metabolism in menopausal women with arterial hypertension (AH); to evaluate dynamics of cerebral blood flow parameters and plasma lipid concentrations in these patients during 6-month antihypertensive and hypolipidemic therapy.

Material and methods: 24 women with AH of I and II grade were examined. They were in postmenopausal period of life during 7,1±0,5 years. At the beginning of the study all women were prescribed moexipril as monotherapy, daily dose 7,5 – 15 mg. Patients with initial dislipidemia were prescribed lipid reducing drug atorvastatin in 10mg daily dose additionally to the antihypertensive therapy. Therefore all the patients were divided into two groups: I – monoteraphy with moexipril (13 people), II – combined therapy with moexipril and atorvastatin (11 people). At the beginning of the study and after 6 months all the patients passed through ultrasonic Dopplerography of vessels of head and neck, rheoencephalography, their lipoproteidogrammes were studied.

Results: During 6-month therapy all the patients showed proved decrease in systolic and diastolic blood pressure, also positive dynamics of neuropsychological status, improvement in cerebral blood flow according to the results of Dopplerography of vessels and rheoencephalography. Normalization of plasma lipid spectrum was noted. More significant positive changes in cerebral hemodynamic parameters and plasma lipid spectrum were observed in patients, who received combined therapy with antihypertensive and lipid reducing drugs.

Conclusion: Deterioration of cerebral hemodynamics is typical for women with long-lasting AH. The most positive influence on cerebral perfusion was received due to combined therapy with moexipril and atorvastatin.

Aim. To compare effects of long term therapy with сarvedilol and bisoprolol on heart and renal functions, heart rate variability (HRV) and quality of life in elderly patients with chronic heart failure (CHF).

Material and methods. We examined 40 patients aged 60-75 years on the 15-30 day after myocardial infarction complicated with CHF. All the patients taking basic therapy with enalapril, aspirin, simvastatin and diuretics were randomized to either bisoprolol (n=20) or сarvedilol (n=20) therapy group. The average daily doses were 5,7+0,8 mg for and 32,6+3,4 mg for carvedilol. The duration of the observation period was 12 months. Cardiac morphofunctional parameters, HRV, renal function and quality of life were determined at baseline, after 12 weeks and at the end of the study.

Results. Complex therapy of CHF including both beta-blockers resulted in clinical improvement, increase in myocardial contractility. However, carvedilol group showed more pronounced increase in ejection fraction in comparison with bisoprolol group, 8,97% and 5,14%, respectively. Local contractility index decreased significantly only in carvedilol group by 29,9% (p<0,05). Carvedilol demonstrated more significant nephroprotective effects: glomerular filtration rate increased by 32,2%, renal functional reserve restored in 70% of patients. Tubular reabsorbtion, sodium clearance and excretion also increased in carvedilol group. After 12 month of treatment microalbuminuria reduced in both groups of patients, but more significant in carvedilol group. Carvedilol provided more strong blocking effect on sympathetic part of autonomic nervous system according to HRV data.

Aim. To assess antihypertensive efficacy and effect on cardio-vascular remodeling of combined drugs of ACE inhibitor and diuretic, “Noliprel forte” (NF) and “Capozide” (CA), in hypertensive high risk patients.

Material and methods. 50 hypertensive (II grade) patients (25 men and 25 women, 19-65 years old) with high cardio-vascular risk took part in comparative opened randomized study. No one of patients received antihypertensive therapy before study. All patients were randomized for therapy with one of combined drug of ACE inhibitors and diuretic. 25 patients took NF (perindopril 4 mg and indapamide 1,25 mg), and 25 patients -CA (captopril 50 mg and hydrochlorothiazide 25 mg). Duration of observation period was 6 months. Before study, after 3 and 6 months of therapy ambulatory blood pressure monitoring (ABPM), echocardiography, cardiac and vessel Dopplerography, ultrasound scanning of general carotid arteries with detection of intima-media thickness (IMT), pulse wave speed (PWS) were held in all patients. Blood bio-chemical analysis was done also.

Results. After 3 months 2 patients in NF group and 4 ones in CA group were required to reinforce of ther-apy with additional administration of perindoprile 4 mg and captopril 50 mg respectively. As a result of 6-month of therapy in NF group systolic dlood pressure (BP) decreased in 14,0% (р<0,001) and diastolic BP – на 12,9% (р<0,001). CA reduced systolic BP by 17,9% (р<0,0001) and diastolic BP – by 17,5% (р<0,001). 76% and 70% of patients in NF and CA groups, respectively, reached target BP level. Positive dynamic of daily profile of BP was observed according to ABPM data. Cerebral blood flow did not worsen despite of BP decrease. Both drugs decreased in thickness of inter-ventricular septum and left ventricular mass. Besides, NF decreased in thickness of left ventricular posterior wall. Both drugs reduced in IMT and decreased in PWS. NF therapy did not change of blood biochemical parameters. CA therapy, opposite, resulted in significant growth of plasma uric acid by 39,6%.

Conclusion. 6-month therapy with NF showed high antihypertensive efficacy for both of drugs, which did not accompany with cerebral blood flow disturbances. Both drugs also showed an ability for positive effect on cardio-vascular remodeling (with NF priority), improvement of artery wall elasticity. NF, unlike CA, did not increase in plasma uric acid level.

Aim. To assess in a short-term study efficiency and safety of hypolipidemic therapy with atorvastatine generic, Tulip, in comparison with simvastatine generic, Vasilip, in hyperlipidemic patients.

Material and methods. Open, randomized, comparative, cross over study included 87 patients with hyperlipidemia, who didn’t receive hypolipidemic drugs within 6 weeks, or followed hypolipidemic diet for 4 weeks. Each patient received therapy with one of the studied drugs within 6 weeks. Then after 4-week wash-out period the second therapy with the other drug was held. Consequence of courses with each drug was set by randomization. Initial dose of both drugs was 10 mg daily. Dose was adjusted after 3 weeks. The dose was increased to 20 mg daily if cholesterol of low density lipoproteid (CLDL) hadn’t reached target level (< 115 mg/dl). of Treatment safety was assessed on the basis of clinical data, hepatic enzymes activity and creatine phosphokinase levels.

Results. It is shown, that to reach target figures of plasma lipid spectrum, Vasilip dose was increased significantly more often, than Tulip dose. Average Tulip dose after titration was 14,8 mg daily, Vasilip dose – 15,6 mg daily. Patients with initially higher level of triglycerides (TG > 170 mg/dl) after 6 weeks with Tulip treatment showed TG reduction by 38% and with Vasilip treatment – by 20%. Both drugs showed good tolerance, no significant differences in number of side-effects were observed.

Conclusion. 6-week treatment with atorvastatine generic Tulip shows significant hypolipidemic effect, which appears in significant reduction of CLDL, total cholesterol, TG compared to the initial levels. Degree of total cholesterol reduction is significantly higher with Tulip treatment compared to Vasilip treatment. Analyses shown that target levels of the assessed figures were reached in more patients, treated with Tulip. Side-effects in Tulip treatment were not severe.

Aim. Tto study efficiency and safety of new combined drug of enalapril maleate and hydrochlorothiazide “Renipril HT: in patients with mild to moderate arterial hypertension (AH) in comparison with the original combined drug with the same substances – “Co-renitec”, possibility of reaching target blood pressure (BP) level with separate treatment with each drug, and in combination with atenolol if necessary.

Material and methods. 30 patients (11 men and 19 women) with mild to moderate AH took part in randomized, open, cross over study. 10-14 days before the study started, previous antihypertensive treatment had been canceled for all the patients. Each patient by turns was treated during 6 weeks with Renipril HT (RH) and Co-renitec (CR). Efficiency of antihypertensive therapy was assessed at visits to physician every 2 weeks within the whole period of study. Within first 2 weeks patients were treated with RH 10/12,5 mg daily or CR 10/6,25 mg daily. Within next 2 weeks doses of drugs were doubled if target BP level (<140/90 mmHg) was not reached. If therapy with doubled doses of combined drugs was inefficient, atenolol 25 mg daily was added for the last 2 weeks of treatment with each drug. After 6-week treatment with the first randomized drug, antihypertensive therapy was canceled for 7-14 days depending on addition of atenolol to the therapy.

Results. After 6-week treatment with RH average level of systolic BP reduced by 21,8 mmHg compared to the initial level, after 6-week treatment with CR – by 23,8 mmHg. Average level of diastolic BP reduced by 10,8 and 13,5 mmHg respectively (differences between drugs in BP decrease are not significant). By the end of 6-week treatment with RH target BP level was reached in 74% of patients, with CR - in 64% of patients. Bigger number of side-effects was registered in treatment with RH (p=0,03), but most part of them were not severe and didn’t demand therapy correction.

Conclusion. New combined drug of enalapril maleate and hydrochlorothiazide – RH is an efficient and safe antihypertensive drug with all advantages of combined drugs. It has no less efficiency than the original drug with the same active components – CR in patients with mild to moderate hypertension. Convenience of taking – once per day – provides high compliance with treatment with this drug.

Aim. To study efficiency and safety of new drug of long acting metoprolol tartrate, “Egilok retard” (ER) in patients with mild to moderate arterial hypertension (AH) in comparison with the original drug of metoprolol succinat, “Betaloc ZOK” (BZ), possibility of reaching target blood pressure (BP) level with treatment with each drug.

Material and methods. 30 patients (11 men and 19 women) with mild to moderate AH took part in randomized, open, cross over study. Previous antihypertensive treatment had been canceled for all the patients 10-14 days before the study started. Each patient by turns was treated during 6 weeks with ER and BZ 50-100 mg daily. After cancellation of the previous antihypertensive therapy, BZ and ER were prescribed (according to the randomization table) in dose 50 mg daily. Drugs were taken once per day. 29 patients completed therapy with the first drug of randomization, 25 patients – with the second. After 2 weeks efficiency of treatment was assessed by target BP level achievement (< 140/90 mmHg). If efficiency of beta-adrenoblocker (BB) was not sufficient, the dose of the drug was doubled to 100 mg daily, if target level was reached – the dose remained unchanged. Treatment with the settled dose was held within next 4 weeks. After 6-week treatment with the first randomized drug antihypertensive therapy was canceled for 10-14 days depending on the BB dose. At each visit office BP and heart rate were assessed, EKG was registered. Side-effects were registered according to the self-control diary, questionnaire results, examination and EKG data.

Results. After 6-week treatment with ER and BZ average level of systolic BP reduced by 15,7 and 15,2 mmHg, of diastolic BP – by 8,0 and 4,5 mmHg, heart rate – by 4,1 and 4,3 beat/min respectively. Differences between antihypertensive and heart rate lowering effect of the studied drugs were not significant. Target BP level with treatment with both drugs was reached in approximately half cases – in 48% of BZ patients, and in 56% of ER patients. Biger number of side effects was registered in BZ treatment (p=0,03). Most side effects were not severe and according to the patient assessment tolerance of both drugs didn’t differ.

Conclusion. Results of the study show that in patients with mild to moderate AH 6-week monotherapy with new drug of long acting metoprolol tartrate, ER, does not differ on efficacy and safety from original drug of long acting metoprolol succinate, BZ.

Data about relations between arterial hypertension, transient ischemic attacks (TIA) and strokes are presented. Pathophysiology, clinic and diagnosis of TIA are described. Possibilities of different classes of antihypertensive drugs to prevent cerebral blood flow disturbances are discussed. Other therapeutic and surgery approaches to the TIA therapy in hypertensive patients are considered. 

The cardiovascular risk factors in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) are reviewed. The perspectives of treatments with statins in RA are given. Results of clinical trials on statin effects on the inflammatory disease activity and endothelial function in patients with RA are summarized.

Editorial comments on “european guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice”.

Assessment of cumulative risk of cardio-vascular diseases.

European guidelines on cardiovascular disease prevention in clinical practice.

Congress of American Heart Association 2005: new results, new problems.

Section of All-Russian Scientific Society of Cardiologists on Rational Pharmacotherapy in Cardiology.

Medical mistake.