Topical Workshop 7:  Endothelins in Hypertension and Cardiovascular Disease

Pathophysiology of the endothelin system: An overview

Endothelins are a new family of peptides. Yanagisawa and Masaki and colleagues are primary responsible for discovering the endothelin system and much of what is known is detailed in that paper (Nature 1988;332:411-415).

Topical Workshop 8: Anticoagulation in CV Disease

Antiplatelet Therapy: Additive Effects

Atherothrombosis is a generalized and progressive disease, involving endothelial dysfunction, leading to thrombosis, a manifestation of the disease, and resulting in cardiovascular events, stated Dr. L. Badimon Maestro of Barcelona, Spain. Systemic and local factors contribute to plaque rupture and about 35 of acute coronary events occur without disruption of the lipid-rich core.

Hypertension treatment goals not achieved in primary care in Germany

June 14, 2006, Madrid, Spain — The poor control of blood pressure in patients with multiple risk factors highlights the need for both better blood pressure control and drug treatment that targets more than one risk factor.

National Registry: Hypertension not controlled in 76% of patients in primary care

June 14, 2006, Madrid, Spain — The well-known poor control of hypertension was reinforced by new data specifying control rates in Spain, presented today at the 16th European Meeting of Hypertension in Madrid, Spain.

Statins associated with small blood pressure reduction in meta-analysis

June 14, 2006 — The effect of statins on endothelial function may explain the small blood pressure reductions found in a meta-analysis, suggest the study investigators who found a ‘small but clinically and statistically meaningful reduction in blood pressure.’

OPTIMAX: Fixed-dose combination as first-line therapy effective to achieve BP control in primary care

June 14, 2006, Madrid, Spain — A study set in everyday clinical practice in France showed, perhaps surprisingly, high achieved blood pressure control rates with first-line combination therapy.

TOLERANCE Study: Better blood pressure control and tolerability with lercanidipine

June 14, 2006 — Significantly better blood pressure control was found with lercanidipine compared to the long-acting dihydropyridine channel blocker amlodipine (46% vs 34%, p=0.025).